The Senate on Monday approved a bill to reopen the federal government, moving the nation closer to ending the longest shutdown in U.S. history after a handful of moderate Democrats joined Republicans to break a six-week stalemate.

The measure passed 60–40, narrowly clearing the threshold needed to advance. It now heads to the House of Representatives, which has been in recess since mid-September. Lawmakers are expected to return to Washington within days for a final vote.

President Donald Trump has indicated he will sign the legislation, saying Monday that “we’re going to be opening up our country very quickly.”

How the Deadlock Broke

The deal emerged after Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, and Independent Senator Angus King of Maine, agreed to support three bipartisan annual spending bills and extend funding for the rest of the government through late January.

In exchange, Republicans promised to hold a December vote on extending health care tax credits that expire Jan. 1 — though no guarantee of passage was made.

“This was the option on the table,” Shaheen said Monday. “The shutdown raised real concern about health care, and this deal gives us an opportunity to keep pushing forward.”

What’s in the Bill

The legislation reverses the mass layoffs of federal workers ordered during the shutdown and ensures back pay once government operations resume. It also protects federal employees from additional furloughs through January.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), whose state is home to thousands of federal workers, joined Shaheen, Hassan, King, Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, and Jacky Rosen in voting to advance the bill. All other Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, voted against it.

Sharp Divisions Among Democrats

Many Democrats condemned the compromise as a setback. Schumer said he could not “in good faith” back the measure, arguing it gave up too much without securing a firm commitment on health care.

“We will not give up the fight,” Schumer said. “Democrats have now sounded the alarm on health care.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called the vote a “horrific mistake,” while Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said Democrats should have “held firm” after strong midterm election results.

In the House, Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), chair of the Progressive Caucus, blasted the deal as “a betrayal” of working families who expected Democrats to fight for lower health costs.

Next Steps

House Speaker Mike Johnson urged members to return “right now,” warning that shutdown-related travel delays could slow the process. “We have to do this as quickly as possible,” Johnson said.

The bill must clear the House before it can reach President Trump’s desk, potentially ending a shutdown that has stretched 41 days — affecting millions of Americans, delaying food assistance, grounding federal workers’ paychecks, and causing widespread airport disruptions.

If passed, the government would reopen later this week, bringing temporary relief but leaving unresolved debates over health care funding and long-term spending priorities.