On Day 40 of the shutdown, eight Democrats joined Republicans in advancing a government funding measure, after 14 previous votes fell short.

Seven Democrats and one independent voted with Republicans in the Senate late on Sunday in favor of a deal to end the 40-day government shutdown.

A bipartisan agreement to end the longest-ever government shutdown, would fund some agencies through fiscal 2026 and the rest through January, and guarantee backpay for furloughed workers.

At least 60 votes are needed to move the bill forward. In past votes, Sen. Rand Paul was the only Republican to vote against the bill while Democrats Catherine Cortez Masto and John Fetterman, as well as Independent Angus King, voted for it. At least five more Democrats would have to vote in favor of the bill to move it forward.

The Democratic Virginia governor-elect said both parties should vote to open the government even if there's no deal to extend health care subsidies.

A deal to end the government shutdown may be here, but it doesn't mean the lights will automatically come back on. Lawmakers still must vote this week to approve the package in both the House and the Senate.

Senators are working through the weekend for the first time since the government shutdown began more than a month ago, hoping to find a bipartisan resolution that has eluded them.

The government shutdown stretched into its 40th day Sunday even as senators held a weekend session in hopes of finding an end to the impasse that has disrupted flights nationwide, threatened food assistance for millions of Americans and left federal workers without pay.