DEVELOPING: US Senate Passes Shutdown Deal in Last-Minute Bid to Reopen Government

US Senate Passes Shutdown Deal in Last-Minute Bid to Reopen Government The US Senate has passed a deal aimed at ending the record-breaking government shutdown, voting in favor of an agreement after a weekend of negotiations in Washington. The vote, which took place just hours ago, marks a crucial first step towards passing a compromise to fund the government since it ran out of money on October 1. The deal, which was negotiated by a minority of Democrats and Republicans, still needs to clear several more hurdles before federal employees and services can return. Around 1.4 million federal employees are currently on unpaid leave or working without pay due to the shutdown, which has had wide-ranging impacts on various services, including US air traffic control and national parks. The current shutdown is the longest on record in the US, with many government services suspended since October. Senate Majority Leader John Thune played a key role in negotiating the weekend deal, which brought together lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. The agreement now heads to the House of Representatives for a vote, where it is expected to face further scrutiny. If passed, the deal would pave the way for the government to reopen, bringing relief to federal employees and services affected by the shutdown. This is a developing story, with further updates to come as the situation unfolds.