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The US Senate on Sunday advanced a House-passed stopgap funding bill in a 60-40 procedural vote, taking the first clear step toward ending the 40-day partial government shutdown that began on Oct. 1. The move followed an agreement by a group of moderate Democrats to proceed without a guaranteed extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, a concession that split their caucus and drew criticism from progressives. The measure will be amended in the Senate to include additional funding language — reports say it is intended to keep federal agencies funded into late January — and still requires final passage in the Senate, approval in the House and the signature of President Trump before furloughed workers are paid and services fully restart.
![A view of the US Capitol building during the shutdown, illustrating the legislative site of the funding debate.](https://kagiproxy.com/img/iP1aN8kGqUp...</div><div class="hidden" id="preview-full"><p>The US Senate on Sunday advanced a House-passed stopgap funding bill in a 60-40 procedural vote, taking the first clear step toward ending the 40-day partial government shutdown that began on Oct. 1. The move followed an agreement by a group of moderate Democrats to proceed without a guaranteed extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, a concession that split their caucus and drew criticism from progressives. The measure will be amended in the Senate to include additional funding language — reports say it is intended to keep federal agencies funded into late January — and still requires final passage in the Senate, approval in the House and the signature of President Trump before furloughed workers are paid and services fully restart.</p><img src=)
Highlights:
- Democratic split: Eight Democratic senators joined Republicans to advance the bill, prompting sharp criticism from within the Democratic caucus for accepting no immediate guarantee on health-subsidy extensions
- Legislative path: Senators plan to amend the House stopgap to combine a short-term measure with three full-year appropriations bills before final votes, and the package still needs House approval and the president's signature
- Federal workforce: The proposed compromise would bar agencies from firing employees until January 30 and has been framed as a win for federal worker unions amid concerns about pending federal downsizing
- Economic and security costs: Business and security disruptions during the shutdown have included delayed food aid, snarled air travel and more than $5 billion in held arms exports to NATO partners, according to reports warning of wider economic damage
It looks like we're getting very close to the shutdown ending - President Donald Trump
Perspectives:
- President Trump: The president said the shutdown appears close to ending and welcomed procedural progress while noting the final steps remain. (Dawn)
- Centrist Democratic senators: Centrist Democrats argued they advanced the measure to reopen the government now while preserving the option of a later vote on health-subsidy extensions. (Al Jazeera)
- Progressive Democrats: Progressives publicly criticised the decision to move forward without a guaranteed, immediate extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies. (Le Monde)
- Federal worker unions: Unions welcomed protections in the measure that prevent firings until late January and noted back pay provisions for furloughed staff. (The Globe and Mail)
Sources:
- Senators reach deal that could end govt shutdown: U.S. media - thehindu.com
- Senate Republicans break Democratic standoff, paving the way to end US government shutdown - elpais.com
- US Senate takes first step toward ending record government shutdown - timesofisrael.com
- US government shutdown: Democrats split in the Senate, paving the way to end budget deadlock - lemonde.fr
- Senators take first step to end US government shutdown - ft.com
- US Senate Takes First Step Toward Ending Government Shutdown After 40 Days - ndtv.com
- US Senate vote marks step towards ending federal shutdown - theguardian.com
- US Senate takes big step toward ending shutdown - dw.com
- US Senate clears first hurdle to end longest government shutdown - scmp.com
- Senate reaches deal on ending the shutdown - reddit.com
- US Senate advances Bill to end federal shutdown - straitstimes.com
- U.S. Senate takes first step toward ending government shutdown - theglobeandmail.com
- US Senate approves bill to end federal shutdown - abc.net.au
- US Senate takes first step toward ending government shutdown - euronews.com
- US senators reach deal aimed at ending longest government shutdown in history - france24.com
- Senate takes first step toward ending the government shutdown - japantoday.com
- US Senate advances bill to end federal shutdown - dawn.com
- US Senate advances bill to end government shutdown - rt.com
- Democrats break rank as US Senate advances bill to end government shutdown - aljazeera.com
- US Senate passes deal aimed at ending government shutdown - bbc.com
- Deal reached in US Senate to end longest-ever Gov't shutdown - mercopress.com