The US Senate, the upper house of the United States Congress, has now voted to end the US government shutdown. As a result of a bipartisan effort, the Senate voted with a 60-40 majority to break the gridlock.

After 14 failed votes and a 40-day-long shutdown, the Senate is poised to take its first step toward reopening the government, with enough Democrats expected to relent on their healthcare demands to allow Republicans to overcome a filibuster.

Republicans say any vote on extra Obamacare subsidies would come only after the Senate resumes funding. The president has his own ideas to redirect the health insurance money.

The Senate's top Republican says a potential deal is “coming together” on the government shutdown, but there's no guarantee it would end an impasse now stretching to 40 days