Washington: The United States Senate has taken a major step toward ending the federal government shutdown that has stretched into its sixth week. Lawmakers from both major parties agreed to move forward with a bipartisan funding deal aimed at reopening federal offices and restoring pay to thousands of affected workers.

The shutdown began on October 1 after Congress failed to approve new spending bills. It disrupted several key government services, including food assistance programs and public employee operations, and caused growing pressure on both parties to find a solution.

The new deal, which advanced in the Senate, would keep the government funded until the end of January. It includes provisions to pay back federal employees for the weeks they were furloughed and to restore suspended programs. However, it leaves out some of the Democrats’ demands for extending health care tax credits under the Affordable Care Act. Lawmakers have agreed to revisit that issue in December.

Several Democratic senators, including some from northwestern states, have joined Republican colleagues to support the proposal. Their backing played a key role in moving the bill forward after weeks of partisan deadlock.

While the agreement marks important progress, the shutdown will officially end only after the bill passes both chambers of Congress and is signed by the president. The White House has expressed cautious optimism about the deal, calling it a “positive sign of cooperation.”

The long political standoff has already taken a toll on the US economy, with federal workers missing paychecks and public programs facing uncertainty. Economists warn that another prolonged shutdown could affect consumer confidence and delay national projects.

If the bill clears all remaining hurdles in the coming days, it will bring long-awaited relief to millions of Americans affected by the shutdown and signal a temporary return to political stability in Washington.