The U.S. Senate voted 60-40 to invoke cloture on H.R.5371, known as the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026. This important step brings Congress closer to ending the ongoing government shutdown that has slowed the economy for weeks.
With the cloture vote passed, the Senate can now formally debate and move forward with the funding bill that aims to reopen the federal government.
Market Reaction
Financial markets reacted positively to the news. NASDAQ rose by 2% and S&P 500 futures gained 1%, showing investor optimism that a resolution is near.
Analysts said that a quick resolution to the shutdown could help restore business confidence and reduce uncertainty for the Federal Reserve as it prepares its next policy moves.
Next Steps in the House
According to Politico, House GOP leaders have given Republicans a 36-hour notice to return to Washington. Lawmakers are expected to vote on reopening the government once the Senate completes its final action on the bill.
Economic Impact of the Shutdown
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the government shutdown has cost the U.S. economy around $15 billion per week. It has also reduced growth by nearly 1.5 percentage points.
Falling consumer confidence, delayed government services, and missing economic data releases have added pressure on businesses and policymakers. Economists warn that a longer shutdown could worsen the slowdown and impact upcoming job reports and inflation data.
