In a pivotal move to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, seven Senate Democrats and one independent joined Republicans on Sunday night to advance legislation aimed at reopening the federal government. The shutdown, which began on October 1, has left nearly a million federal workers without pay and disrupted critical services across the nation. The stopgap measure, which passed a crucial 60-40 procedural vote, would temporarily fund the government until January 30, 2026, and reinstate federal employees with back pay.