US Senate passes bill to end government shutdown

WASHINGTON

The US Senate passed legislation Monday to end the longest-ever government shutdown, which is now in its 41st day.

By a vote of 60-40, the Senate passed H.R.5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026, as amended.

Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Angus King, Jacky Rosen and Jeanne Shaheen joined Republicans in supporting the measure.

Republican Sen. Rand Paul voted against the bill, which extends federal funding through Jan. 30, 2026.

The legislation also incorporates three-year-long appropriations packages covering essential agencies and programs while reinstating federal employees who lost their positions during the shutdown.

"This has been a very long road, quite literally the longest shutdown in history. I am very, very happy to be able to say that we are coming to the end," Majority Leader John Thune said on the Senate floor after the vote.

The upper chamber is sending the bill to the House of Representatives for final approval.

On Wednesday, the lower chamber is expected to return for the first time since Sept. 19 after House Speaker Mike Johnson urged lawmakers on Monday to start returning "right now" to Washington, DC, as the shutdown continues to disrupt air travel across the country.

The shutdown began on Oct. 1 after a breakdown in negotiations on federal spending priorities. Thousands of federal workers have since been furloughed, working without pay, while government services have been curtailed or suspended.