After 40 Days of Deadlock, Senate Moves Closer to Ending Historic US Shutdown

Washington: The government shutdown that has been going on in America for the last 40 days now appears to be ending. The US Senate is going to vote today on a funding bill that could clear the way for restarting the government. This has become the longest shutdown in US history, affecting millions of employees and government services.

How did the shutdown start?

The crisis began on October 1, 2025, when Congress could not agree on spending bills on time. The Democratic Party wanted government spending to be linked to health care subsidies (Affordable Care Act), while the Republican Party was pushing for reopening the government first. This disagreement between the two parties halted government funding and triggered the shutdown.

What is proposed in the new funding bill?

In the bill that has been presented in the US Senate, it is proposed to provide funding to government agencies for the next financial year, i.e., till January 2026. This bill includes three full-year allocation plans to maintain government efficiency. Apart from this, under an agreement, it has been decided that the health care subsidy will be voted on separately in December. This means that for now the priority is to start the government; the rest of the issues will be decided later.

How did the shutdown affect the common people?

For the last 40 days, lakhs of federal employees have been sitting at home without pay or are forced to work without pay. There are delays and chaos at airports, postal services, and administrative departments. According to American media reports, this shutdown has caused a loss of billions of dollars to the country's economy. There has been increased anger among the public due to the delay in flights for passengers and the halting of many schemes.

What will happen next?

Voting on the bill will take place in the Senate on Sunday night (local time). If it is passed, it will again have to be approved by the House of Representatives, and then it will become law with the signature of the President. Although this will reopen the government, differences between the two parties remain over healthcare subsidies and budget provisions, which could lead to renewed conflict in the coming months.

To conclude, American politics is currently at a crucial juncture. If there is a consensus in the Senate, then the world's largest economy can return to normal track again, but if the voting fails, then this crisis could prolong further.