The US Senate on Monday approved a compromise that will end the longest government shutdown (shutdown) in US history, ending a week-long stalemate.
The 60-40 vote passed with the support of nearly all Republicans and eight Democrats, who unsuccessfully tried to tie government funding to health care subsidies.
While the deal calls for a vote in December on those subsidies, which benefit 24 million Americans, it does not guarantee they will be renewed.
The agreement would resume funding for federal agencies, which lawmakers allowed to expire on 1 October, and halt President Donald Trump’s campaign to cut federal staff, preventing any layoffs until 30 January.
After the Senate passed the funding bill, it moves to the House of Representatives, which, like the Senate, is controlled by Republicans.
The document is expected to be considered as early as Wednesday.
The ongoing government shutdown in the US has become the longest in the country’s history.
The temporary suspension of the US government, which occurs when Congress fails to agree on funding for government agencies, began on 1 October.
The previous record was set in early 2019, during Donald Trump’s first term. Back then, the shutdown lasted 34 days and 21 hours.
To pass the budget, a simple majority of Republicans in both houses of Congress is not enough. In the Senate, the main US financial document must be approved by at least 60 deputies out of 100.
Congress could not agree on funding the government, as Democrats insist on extending tax breaks for health insurance and allocating funds for preferential health care programmes. Republicans refuse to support these demands.