After more than 40 days of a historic federal shutdown, the U.S. government appears to be on the brink of reopening. Late Monday night, the Senate passed a crucial funding bill with a 60–40 vote, marking a major step toward restoring federal operations. The bill, which provides continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2026, is designed to keep the government funded through January 31, 2026.
The measure still requires approval from the House of Representatives and President Donald Trump’s signature before taking effect. Because of the federal holiday on Tuesday, the House is not expected to reconvene until at least Wednesday, delaying final passage by a few days.
Senate Vote Paves Way for Government Funding
The Senate’s bipartisan approval came after weeks of tense negotiations between Democrats and Republicans. Several Democratic senators joined GOP members to push the bill through, breaking the deadlock that had kept large parts of the government shuttered.
Prediction platform Polymarket has adjusted its forecasts, now expecting normal federal operations to resume by Friday, assuming the House and President Trump finalize the deal. The prolonged shutdown — the longest in U.S. history — has caused widespread furloughs and disruptions across key federal agencies, affecting millions of Americans.
Crypto Market Bill Faces Delays Amid Shutdown Fallout
Meanwhile, the Senate Agriculture Committee has released a draft bill focused on the structure and regulation of the cryptocurrency market. Progress on this legislation was slowed by the shutdown, and lawmakers now face growing pressure to move it forward ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
As Washington shifts its focus to reopening the government, questions remain about how the political standoff will affect future fiscal negotiations — and whether bipartisan cooperation can hold long enough to prevent another shutdown.
