On Sunday the Senate cleared the way for a formal debate that could finally end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The Republican‑led chamber approved a procedural “cloture” vote 60‑40, setting a hard 30‑hour limit for further discussion before a final vote that will need only 50 votes to pass .
The measure still has to survive the Republican‑controlled House and land on President Donald Trump’s desk, but the vote marks real progress after more than 40 days of funding paralysis.
The breakthrough came after a bipartisan stopgap deal to keep the government funded through January. Lawmakers hammered out a compromise on health‑care subsidies, food benefits and the Trump administration’s recent firings of federal workers ². When the news broke, Trump told reporters at the White House, “It looks like we’re getting very close to the shutdown ending.”
was one of eight Democrats who crossed party lines. “I need a moratorium on the punishing of the federal workforce,” he said, noting that Virginia’s 300,000 federal employees would get back pay and their jobs restored
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer* voted against the measure, warning that Republicans have “spent the past 10 months dismantling the healthcare system, skyrocketing costs, and making every day harder for American families”
Republican Senator John Thunecelebrated the win, saying the deal will secure full‑year funding for nutrition programs, veterans and other critical priorities after 40 days of uncertainty
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that if the shutdown continued, flight cancellations would multiply, potentially reducing Thanksgiving travel to a “trickle.” By Sunday, more than 3,000 flights had been canceled and over 10,000 delayed, according to FlightAware
The bill would restore funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps more than 42 million low‑income Americans, and pave the way for a vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at year‑end 
The proposal would protect workers from baseless firings, reinstate those laid off during the shutdown and guarantee back pay
The Senate now has up to 30 more hours of debate before a final vote. If the 50‑vote threshold is met, the measure moves to the House, where a quick vote is expected later this week. Until then, the nation waits to see whether the shutdown will finally end and normal government operations—including air traffic control and benefit payments—resume.
