Senate Advances Bill to End Government Shutdown. The U.S. Senate has taken a major step toward ending the 40-day government shutdown that's disrupted federal services, delayed food aid, and caused chaos at airports. In a 60–40 procedural vote, senators advanced a House-passed bill that would reopen the government until January 30 and fund several key agencies for the rest of the year. The deal also includes a December vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies — a key Democratic demand to help low-income Americans afford health insurance. The bill promises back pay for federal workers and blocks agencies from firing employees until late January — a setback for Trump's effort to shrink the federal workforce. While some Democrats criticized the compromise, others said it's the fastest way to restore government operations. President Trump said he's optimistic, telling reporters, "It looks like we're getting very close to the shutdown ending.” Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT