US Senate advances stopgap deal to end record government shutdown

After 40 days of political paralysis, the US Senate has voted to move forward with a stopgap funding deal that could end the longest government shutdown in American history.

In a 60–40 procedural vote on Sunday, eight Democrats broke ranks to back a Republican-led package that would reopen the government until January 30. The deal also funds food aid, veterans’ programmes, and the legislative branch through next year, but punts on healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, promising only a December vote on the issue.

Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said he couldn’t “in good faith” support the measure, warning that Democrats had “sounded the alarm” on healthcare. Senator Bernie Sanders called the compromise “a horrific mistake.”

Political analyst Niall Stanage said the eight Democrats who supported the deal sparked “enormous uproar” within their party, given last week’s strong Democratic election wins. Meanwhile, the shutdown’s fallout deepens, with over 2,000 flight cancellations, delayed food aid, and tens of thousands of federal workers still unpaid.