U.S. Senate Votes to End Government Shutdown with Bipartisan Deal

The U.S. Senate has voted to break the government shutdown, following a bipartisan agreement that funds key agencies. While the deal includes concessions and signals progress, it also highlights divisions within the Democratic Party. Some liberals criticized it for not securing continued ACA subsidies, complicating party dynamics.

The U.S. Senate voted 60-40 on Sunday night, ending the protracted government shutdown and paving the way for reopening federal agencies, according to Politico. The vote marks a critical achievement, facilitated by eight Senate Democrats who backed a funding package set to finance several key agencies through the fiscal year.

The agreement followed intense discussions among Senate leaders, the Trump administration, and centrist lawmakers. In return for their support, Democrats secured two major concessions: rehiring thousands of federal workers dismissed during the shutdown and a December Senate vote on extending Obamacare tax credits.

In highlighting the vote's significance, Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated this was a "path forward to get America working again." However, the agreement exposed rifts within the Democratic Party, with liberal members criticizing insufficient guarantees for Affordable Care Act subsidies. Nevertheless, centrists defended the compromise as essential to curtailing the shutdown's adverse effects on the nation.

(With inputs from agencies.)