The measure, which cleared a 60-40 procedural vote, would fund key agencies through January 30, 2026, and includes three full-year appropriations bills. It still requires final passage in both chambers before reaching President Donald Trump’s desk.
The shutdown began on October 1, when Congress failed to pass a budget for the fiscal year 2026. Since then, hundreds of thousands of federal employees have gone unpaid, airports have struggled to maintain operations, and critical programs such as SNAP have faced severe cuts.
Travel disruptions intensified this weekend, with more than 2,700 flight cancellations nationwide as the FAA continues to manage staff shortages. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Sunday that the economic fallout is “getting worse and worse,” urging lawmakers to end the impasse before lasting damage sets in.
At the heart of the stalemate is the future of Affordable Care Act subsidies, which expire at year’s end. Democrats have pressed to renew the funding, while President Trump has proposed replacing it with direct assistance to individuals. The current deal includes a pledge for a December vote on the issue, which could determine whether the bill advances further.
Eight Senate Democrats joined Republicans to move the measure forward, underscoring the urgency among rank-and-file members as public frustration grows. Still, the House must pass the final version before the President can sign it. Without swift action, furloughs, benefit suspensions, and air travel disruptions will continue.
In Minnesota, roughly 12,000 federal employees remain affected by the shutdown, including workers at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and federal offices in Duluth and St. Paul. SNAP benefit reductions have already hit low-income families statewide, and small businesses tied to federal contracts have reported growing financial strain.
The Senate reconvenes Monday morning to continue debate. If the bill passes both chambers, government operations could begin restarting by mid-week.
