The US Senate has approved a bill aimed at ending the country’s longest-ever government shutdown, which stretched over 41 days, according to American media reports.
The legislation received 60 votes in favor and 40 against, with eight opposition Democrats crossing party lines to support the annual spending bill. The approval opens the door for the government to resume operations after weeks of disruption.
However, the bill still requires final approval from the House of Representatives, where the ruling Republican Party holds the majority.
The 41-day shutdown left hundreds of thousands of federal employees working without pay, halted food assistance programs, and severely affected air travel across the country.