US shutdown nears end as Trump supports Senate agreement

US President Donald Trump on Monday voiced his support for a bipartisan deal aimed at ending the 41-day government shutdown, as Senate Republican leaders push for a swift vote on the agreement.

When asked whether he backed the deal, Trump said he did. He added that Democrats had not changed the terms and that there was enough cross-party support to reopen the government soon.

On Sunday night, the Senate voted 60–40 to advance the agreement, with eight Democrats joining Republicans. The deal includes plans to later hold a vote on extending certain Affordable Care Act subsidies and reinstating federal workers who were dismissed during the shutdown.

However, the agreement does not fully meet Democrats’ demands, such as broad extensions of ACA subsidies or reversing Medicaid cuts introduced under Trump’s earlier spending legislation.

Democratic Whip Dick Durbin broke from party leadership to support the measure. He was joined by Democratic Senators Catherine Cortez Masto, John Fetterman, Maggie Hassan, Jeanne Shaheen, Tim Kaine, Jacky Rosen, and independent Senator Angus King. Republican Senator Rand Paul was the only Republican to vote against it.

Final approval may still take time. Under Senate rules, any senator can delay the process for several days, and Rand Paul moved to do so on Monday, objecting to a provision that would block the sale of certain hemp products. He said the clause would negatively affect hemp farmers and businesses in Kentucky.

The House of Representatives must also return to session and vote on the Senate deal before it can be sent to the President to become law.