US Government Nears Reopening After 40-Day Shutdown

In a late-night vote on Monday, the US Senate passed the “continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2026” bill by a margin of 60 to 40, marking a significant bipartisan breakthrough after more than 40 days of government shutdown. The legislation received crucial support from several Democratic lawmakers who sided with Republicans to achieve the necessary majority. This vote represents the most substantial progress toward resolving the extended government closure that has kept federal agencies operating at reduced capacity and staff levels for over a month.

The bill’s passage through the Senate chamber came after weeks of political stalemate that had left many government functions suspended. The 60-40 vote margin indicates substantial cross-party cooperation in the upper chamber, suggesting that both parties recognized the urgency of ending the prolonged shutdown. This legislative action sets the stage for the government’s return to normal operations, though several procedural steps remain before federal agencies can fully resume their activities.

The legislation now moves to the House of Representatives, where approval is required before the bill can reach President Donald Trump’s desk for final signature. However, the timing faces an immediate complication with Tuesday being a federal holiday, meaning the House cannot reconvene to vote on the measure until Wednesday at the earliest. This delay pushes the potential reopening timeline further into the week, though the legislative process appears to be nearing its conclusion.

If approved by the House and signed into law by President Trump, the bill would fund government operations through January 31, 2026, providing nearly two years of budgetary certainty after the current disruption. The extended funding period suggests lawmakers are seeking to avoid similar shutdown scenarios in the near term, though the current legislation represents a temporary solution rather than a comprehensive budget agreement.

Prediction platform Polymarket has already adjusted its forecasts in response to the Senate’s action, now indicating that the US government will likely return to normal operations on Friday. This market-based expectation reflects confidence that the House will approve the legislation and President Trump will sign it into law promptly. The prediction market’s adjustment demonstrates how financial and political observers are pricing the likelihood of a swift resolution to the government shutdown.

Federal agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are expected to reopen the day after the funding bill becomes law, ending more than 40 days of reduced operations and staffing. The SEC’s return to full functionality will be particularly significant for financial markets, which have operated with reduced regulatory oversight during the shutdown period. Other critical agencies will follow similar reopening protocols, though the exact timing may vary depending on internal procedures and the specific provisions of the final legislation.