The U.S. Senate has passed a temporary funding measure, bringing the longest government shutdown in history closer to an end. The 41-day shutdown could conclude as early as Wednesday, pending House approval. The Senate voted 60-40 on the legislation, which was supported by a group of eight centrist Democrats despite significant backlash from within their party.

The shutdown has caused widespread disruptions, including delays in air travel and food aid, leaving many federal workers unpaid for over a month. House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated that he expects the House to quickly approve the spending package, which would keep most government operations running through January 30 and some agencies funded until September 30.

President Donald Trump has expressed his support for the bill, stating, "we're going to be opening up our country very quickly." The House, which has not voted since the shutdown began, is expected to reconvene on Wednesday to consider the measure.

The deal reached by the centrist Democrats involved dropping demands to renew expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies, a move that angered many progressives. Representative Andy Harris, chairman of the hardline conservative Freedom Caucus, offered conditional support, which may help the bill's chances in the House.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and other party members criticized the agreement. Schumer stated he could not support the bill after discussions with his caucus, emphasizing that Democrats would continue to fight for health care issues. Senator Elizabeth Warren called the decision a "terrible mistake," arguing that the American public expects Democrats to advocate for health care.

The legislation includes provisions to pay federal workers who were denied pay during the shutdown and prohibits any federal layoffs through January 30. It also funds key departments, including Agriculture and Veterans Affairs, as well as military construction projects.

The agreement was reached after weeks of negotiations, with some moderate Democrats switching their votes to advance the bill. Senator Jeanne Shaheen remarked that the shutdown had raised concerns about health care, and the promise of a future vote on subsidies provides an opportunity to address those issues.

Despite the Senate's approval, the path forward remains uncertain. House Speaker Johnson has not committed to bringing the health care subsidies to a vote, and some Republicans have expressed a willingness to extend the COVID-19-era tax credits but want to impose new limits on eligibility.

As the government prepares to reopen, federal agencies are expected to face backlogs and delays in processing services. The impact of the shutdown on air travel and food assistance programs may take time to resolve, affecting millions of Americans who rely on these services.

The situation highlights the challenges Democrats face in negotiating with a Republican-controlled Congress, especially regarding health care issues that remain a priority for many voters. The upcoming vote in December on health care subsidies will be crucial for both parties as they navigate the political landscape following this prolonged shutdown.