Is America's Longest Shutdown Finally Ending? Senate Reaches Deal to Reopen Government

A bipartisan group of US senators has reached an agreement to fund the government through January 30, potentially bringing an end to the 40-day shutdown — the longest in American history. According to a source familiar with the matter, quoted by CNN, there are enough members of the Senate Democratic Caucus prepared to advance the plan and reopen the government. The agreement — negotiated in part by Senators Angus King, Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, alongside several Republican senators — has "more than enough" members of the Senate Democratic Caucus to advance, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. The US Senate is preparing to vote on the Bill on Sunday night. Also Read: 'People Are Really Hurting' - How the Longest Government Shutdown in History Hit Americans If passed, the vote will advance a House-approved stopgap funding measure. The broader deal would fund key departments — including the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and military construction projects — for the remainder of the fiscal year. It would also cover the operations of Congress. All other federal agencies would remain funded through January 30, under the text of the continuing resolution released on Sunday. As part of the agreement, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has pledged to give Democrats a vote in December on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of the year, with Democrats determining the version of the extension bill that will go before the chamber. The deal also ensures that federal employees furloughed during the shutdown will be re-hired and receive back pay once government operations resume. Reacting to the development, President Donald Trump told reporters that it looked like the government shutdown was "getting close" to ending. "It looks like we're getting close to the shutdown ending," the President said upon arriving back to the White House on Sunday evening. "You'll know very soon." The vote marks the most significant step yet toward resolving the longest government shutdown in US history. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.