The longest US government shutdown in history may soon be coming to an end.
On Sunday, a handful of Senate Democrats joined with Republicans to break a bitter impasse that closed the government down on October 1, leading to a furlough for hundreds of thousands of federal workers, widespread flight delays and disruption to federal programmes.
The bipartisan deal drew sharp criticism and leaves few senators fully satisfied. It provides funding to reopen the government, including for food aid and other programmes, while also ensuring back pay for furloughed federal workers the Trump administration had left in doubt.
But it lacks any clear resolution to expiring health care subsidies – the same issue on which Democrats forced the shutdown in the first place. A debate on the subsidies, which help millions of Americans pay for health insurance, will be voted on separately next month.
Even if the Senate approves the deal on Monday, it could take several days for the shutdown to end. The House of Representatives must also approve it, then it needs to be signed by President Donald Trump.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would give members of Congress 36 hours notice to return to the Capitol once the Senate passes the bill.
Flight disruptions and food aid delays are likely to persist until the shutdown officially ends.
Still, Republicans on Monday took a victory lap, with Mr Johnson telling reporters that the shutdown “nightmare,” now in its 41st day, is finally coming to an end.
Meanwhile, many Democrats are furious that moderate senators failed to secure an extension of the Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies, provoking a backlash within the party just days after many Democrats were celebrating last week’s election victories.
California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom called the deal “pathetic” while Illinois Governor Jay Pritzker criticised Republican concessions in the agreement as an “empty promise.”
