U.S. Government Shutdown Nears An End

Senate Moves to Resolution

The long U.S. government shutdown is near its end. Today, the Senate voted to reopen government operations. Some Democrats joined Republicans to support the proposal, which can now permit stalled activities to resume after 40 days.

Reason for the Shutdown

The shutdown began when President Donald Trump and Congress failed to reach an agreement over funding bills. As a result, many government services stopped working. The stalemate reached its 40th day on Sunday, forcing a special Senate session to debate possible solutions.

Progress on Ending the Stalemate

During the meeting, senators took the first step to end the shutdown. A few Democrats accepted the deal presented by Trump and Republican leaders. Texas Senator John Cornyn voted in favor during the final stage. The resolution passed with 60 votes — the exact number needed. The Senate has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and 2 independents, so at least 8 Democrats joined in the measure.

Shutdown History in the U.S.

There have been 15 government shutdowns since 1981. The longest lasted 35 days, between 2018 and 2019, also during Donald Trump's presidency. This now marks the third shutdown to occur under his watch. This new vote brings the government one step closer to reopening and resuming work as usual.