(MENAFN) The US Senate approved critical legislation Monday to terminate the nation's longest government shutdown on record, now entering its 41st consecutive day.

Lawmakers greenlit H.R.5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026, as amended, in a 60-40 vote that broke weeks of fiscal deadlock.

Eight Democratic senators crossed party lines to support the Republican-backed measure: Catherine Cortez Masto, Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Angus King, Jacky Rosen, and Jeanne Shaheen.

In a notable defection, Republican Senator Rand Paul opposed the legislation, which provides federal funding continuity through January 30, 2026.

The bill encompasses three-year appropriations allocations for critical government agencies and programs, while simultaneously restoring federal employees terminated during the prolonged shutdown.

"This has been a very long road, quite literally the longest shutdown in history. I am very, very happy to be able to say that we are coming to the end," Majority Leader John Thune declared from the Senate floor following the vote.

The upper chamber has now forwarded the measure to the House of Representatives for final authorization.

The lower chamber is scheduled to reconvene Wednesday for its first session since September 19, after House Speaker Mike Johnson issued an urgent Monday directive for lawmakers to return "right now" to Washington, DC, as the shutdown wreaks havoc on nationwide air transportation systems.

The crisis commenced October 1 following collapsed negotiations over federal spending priorities. Since then, thousands of government workers have faced furloughs or worked without compensation, while essential public services have faced severe curtailment or complete suspension.

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