US Senate approves bill to end government shutdown

Senate majority Leader John Thune, speaks to reporters as he arrives at his office following a weekend vote to move forward with a stopgap funding bill to reopen the government (J Scott Applewhite/AP)

The US Senate passed legislation on Monday to reopen the government, bringing the longest shutdown in history closer to an end as a small group of Democrats ratified a deal with Republicans despite searing criticism from within their party.

The 41-day shutdown could last a few more days as members of the House, which has been on recess since mid-September, return to Washington to vote on the legislation.