The agreement opened the way for a Senate vote in which at least eight Democratic defectors voted to break the filibuster and to clear the first hurdle to reopening the government after nearly six weeks.

House members and Senate candidates with no direct say in the agreement were apoplectic about a deal cut by moderates.

Republicans found enough Democrats willing to drop their party's demand to extend soon-to-expire health care subsidies for millions of people.

Late Sunday, the Senate took the first in a series of votes that likely will lead to the government reopening later this week.

A legislative package to end the government shutdown appears on track Monday after a handful of Senate Democrats joined with Republicans to break the impasse in what has become a deepening disruption of federal programs and services,

The Senate moves to end the U.S. government shutdown after a group of Democrats join the Republicans to vote in favor of an agreement.