— On Day 42 of the U.S. government shutdown, the Senate approved a funding package in a 60-40 vote on Monday, sending the bill to the House for a final vote as soon as Wednesday. The measure would extend funding for most federal agencies through Jan. 30 and include three full-year appropriations for select programs; if passed by the House and signed by the President, the impasse would end. Lawmakers and federal workers reacted to the advance; airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration are also adjusting operations in response to staffing gaps and the suspension. Key operational impacts include missed paychecks for air traffic controllers and renewed travel disruption at major airports.
Key takeaways
- The Senate approved the package in a 60-40 roll call, with eight Senate Democrats joining most Republicans to advance the measure.
- The bill would extend funding for most agencies until Jan. 30, 2026, while granting full-year appropriations for three government segments.
- The House may begin voting as early as 4 p.m. Wednesday; if approved it would move to the President, who is expected to sign it.
- Air traffic controllers will miss their second full paycheck on Tuesday; federal law requires back pay once appropriations resume.
- The FAA directed airlines to reduce operations, and carriers are projected to cancel about 6% of flights at 40 of the busiest U.S. airports on Tuesday, up from earlier 4% estimates.
- At least 18 FAA facilities reported staffing shortfalls Monday evening, compounding operational strain across the transportation network.
Background
The shutdown began after appropriations lapsed following congressional gridlock in mid-September; the House has been out of session since Sept. 19, 2025, when lawmakers passed a short-term continuing resolution that later failed to hold. Over six weeks later, the impasse produced the longest shutdown in modern U.S. history, affecting discretionary operations across multiple departments. Key stakeholders include House and Senate Republican leaders, a fractious Democratic caucus, the White House, federal employees and major infrastructure operators such as the FAA and major airlines. The dynamic has been shaped by intra-party tensions and bargaining over long-term funding levels and policy riders, with negotiators ultimately moving toward a compromise that couples short-term continuing funding with a small number of full-year bills.
Federal employees, contractors and service users have borne the immediate economic burden: many furloughed workers lost wages or saw delayed pay, while mission-critical staff performed unpaid essential duties. The aviation sector has been particularly exposed because air traffic control staffing shortages raise safety and scheduling concerns; FAA guidance to airlines has forced carriers to preemptively cut flights. Public opinion and political pressure intensified as the shutdown extended into November, increasing incentives for some lawmakers to break with party strategy and vote to reopen government.
Main event
On Monday evening the Senate completed a 60-40 vote to approve a funding package negotiated the prior day. Eight Democrats crossed with Republicans to overcome procedural hurdles, allowing the bill to advance; that coalition reflects a mix of electoral pressure and concerns about sustaining essential services amid growing operational disruptions. Senate leaders moved quickly to transmit the bill to the House, where leaders said they would reconvene for votes as soon as travel logistics permit.
House Majority leadership notified members on Monday to return to Washington promptly in anticipation of travel delays affecting airports nationwide, a consequence of the broader personnel strain. Both chambers were out of session on Tuesday for the Veterans Day holiday, delaying floor action until midweek. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer indicated votes could begin around 4 p.m. Wednesday, with multiple procedural and final passage votes expected.
At the operational level, the FAA informed airlines of adjustments designed to match available controller staffing, and airlines reported plans to cancel roughly 6% of flights at 40 major airports on Tuesday to comply with FAA guidance. Separately, air traffic controllers face their second missed full paycheck, with managers reporting that more absences have emerged among an already stressed workforce — at least 18 facilities reported shortfalls Monday evening. The administration and congressional leaders reiterated that federal employees will receive back pay once appropriations are restored, consistent with federal law.
Analysis & implications
Politically, the Senate coalition that produced the 60-40 margin underscores how protracted operational pain can erode party discipline. Eight Democrats voting with Republicans suggests that electoral exposure, constituent pressure, and visible service disruptions shifted some lawmakers’ calculus. For House Republicans, the test now is whether their conference can hold together for final passage; leadership appears confident but faces a narrower and more fractious majority than the Senate.
Operationally, the immediate benefit of the bill would be to restore pay and resume routine activities for the majority of agencies through Jan. 30; however, the window is brief and leaves unresolved mid‑budget year negotiations. Agencies that received full-year funding in the package gain stability, but the approach effectively postpones many contested funding decisions into the new calendar. That ephemeral relief reduces short-term economic and service damage but extends uncertainty for programs left on temporary funding tracks.
For the aviation system, the temporary funding fix will not instantly restore staffing to pre-shutdown levels. Controllers who missed paychecks will receive back pay retroactively, but workforce morale and retention may take longer to recover — and airlines will have already adjusted schedules to mitigate risk. The disruption demonstrates how critical infrastructure services are sensitive to funding continuity and the cascading effects of even short funding gaps.
Comparison & data
| Item | Figure / status |
|---|---|
| Senate vote | 60-40 (eight Democrats joined) |
| Funding extension | Through Jan. 30, 2026; three full-year bills included |
| Flight cancellations (projected) | ~6% at 40 busiest airports (Tuesday) |
| FAA facilities reporting shortfalls | At least 18 (Monday evening) |
| Paychecks missed | Air traffic controllers: second full paycheck missed (Tuesday) |
The table summarizes principal numerical data in this report. While the Senate margin and funding end date are fixed by the roll call and the bill text, operational figures such as cancellations and facility shortfalls come from FAA and airline projections and may change day to day as staffing shifts and votes occur.
Reactions & quotes
Lawmakers and affected workers offered immediate reactions that illuminate both the political stakes and human cost.
“I’ve been voting consistently since the beginning that it’s always wrong to shut our government down,” said one Democratic senator who joined the bipartisan advance, noting the pressure to end the stalemate so essential services can resume.
Sen. John Fetterman (D)
“It is tough when your children are asking you questions about… can we go on vacation or can we do dance or could we do basketball,” an air traffic controller explained, describing the personal strain of missing pay.
Joe Segretto, air traffic controller (employee)
“He thought he could break the Republicans and the Republicans broke him,” the President said in a broadcast interview, characterizing his view of Senate Minority Leader leadership during the shutdown talks.
President Donald Trump
Unconfirmed
- Whether every House Republican will support final passage remains uncertain until recorded votes are posted; leadership has expressed confidence but dissent is possible.
- Projected flight cancellation percentages are provisional and may be revised by airlines or the FAA based on last-minute staffing changes.
- President Trump’s immediate signing timeline was reported as expected, but an actual signature time had not been posted at the time of this update.
Bottom line
The Senate’s 60-40 vote represents a decisive procedural step toward ending the longest government shutdown in recent memory, but final resolution hinges on the House’s willingness to accept the negotiated package and the President’s signature. If the House approves the measure and the President signs, most agencies will have funding through Jan. 30, 2026, and federal employees will receive retroactive pay; however, the temporary nature of the extension defers many contentious funding debates to the coming months.
For the public and critical services like aviation, the immediate objective is restoring pay and steady operations; for policymakers, the next phase will be negotiating longer-term fiscal and policy choices before the new January deadline. Observers should watch the House roll call, the timing of the presidential signature, and near-term operational indicators from the FAA and major carriers for the clearest signs that the shutdown’s practical effects are receding.
Sources
- CBS News — media report with live updates and roll-call coverage.
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) — official agency statements and operational guidance (official).
- U.S. House of Representatives — official schedule and procedural notices (official).