After a grueling 41-day impasse, the U.S. Senate passed a crucial spending bill late Tuesday, moving the nation one step closer to ending the protracted government shutdown. The bipartisan funding package, approved by a 60–40 margin, now heads to the House of Representatives, where a vote is anticipated on Wednesday. Should the lower chamber concur, the legislation will proceed to the White House for President Trump’s expected signature, fully restoring federal operations and paychecks for hundreds of thousands of impacted workers.
The climactic vote followed an extended weekend of intensive negotiations, concluding a period marked by procedural wrangling and political attrition. While many senators had departed prior to the final tally, a wave of applause from those remaining in the chamber greeted the result. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), a primary architect of the compromise, celebrated the momentum toward reopening the government and ensuring federal employees receive back pay.
Bipartisan Compromise Follows Intense Debate
The breakthrough signaled a necessary retreat from partisan lines, mirroring a similar 60–40 margin seen in an advance vote signaling the deal earlier this week. The final stretch to passage, however, was not without conflict. Several amendments attempted to reshape the bill’s contents, most notably an effort by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) to remove language maintaining certain restrictions on the hemp industry. Paul, the sole Republican to ultimately vote against the package, warned that the remaining constraints would negatively impact hemp farmers, particularly in his home state of Kentucky.
Throughout the evening, the Senate floor exhibited signs of exhaustion, with activity spiking only as senators drifted in for roll calls on a sequence of required procedural hurdles. Among the final votes to be registered were those of Democrats Cory Booker (NJ) and Jeff Merkley (OR), who both signaled their opposition to the bill.
Intra-Party Divisions Emerge Over Strategy
The compromise, though sufficient to pass, exposed significant internal divisions within the Democratic caucus regarding negotiation strategy. Outside the chamber, Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) voiced sharp criticism about the cross-party agreement, arguing that moving forward without the explicit backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer constituted an unnecessary concession. Murphy labeled the agreement a “gift” to Republicans and President Trump, suggesting Democrats failed to secure enough core priorities.
The pressure of the shutdown was particularly acute in states with large federal workforces, highlighting further Democratic splits. Virginia’s two Senate Democrats demonstrated this strain: Senator Tim Kaine joined Republicans and an independent in backing the temporary funding measure, while Senator Mark Warner opposed it. Warner’s opposition underscored concerns over the bill failing to secure an immediate extension of crucial health care tax credits—a central Democratic demand in the funding talks—while hundreds of thousands of his Virginia constituents faced furloughs or worked without compensation.
This legislative victory marks a tentative conclusion to one of the longest government shutdowns in recent U.S. history. Attention now shifts entirely to the House of Representatives, where swift action is required to finalize the bill and allow federal agencies to resume their full scope of duties. Should the House approve the package on Wednesday, government operations are expected to be fully restored almost immediately.