The Senate gave its nod to a temporary extension of the Highway Trust Fund on Saturday, ensuring that 3,700 federal employees will come back to their jobs at least for the next month.

The House of Representatives had already passed the extension on Friday by unanimous consent and it now goes to President Joe Biden‘s desk for signature.

The Highway Trust Fund is designed to provide the finances for long-term stability for road and transit projects. The fund expired on Thursday amid Democrats infighting over the $1 trillion infrastructure bill and a social spending deal.

A section of democrats wants to finalise a deal on several trillion dollars in social spending before going for the infrastructure package backed by President Biden.

Department of Transportation had furloughed 3,700 employees on Friday as lawmakers failed to extend spending from the highway trust fund in time.

Most of the furloughed employees work for the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials said had said after the lapse that the failure “lapses our highway, transit, and highway safety programs and halts work on vital transportation infrastructure around the country, which is detrimental to our economy and the quality of life of our communities,” CNN reported.

“The furloughs impact approximately 3700 employees and the administration is continuing to work closely with Congress to swiftly reauthorize surface transportation programs”, the Department of Transportation spokesperson said, according to CNN.

The
extension was passed as the lawmakers continue a larger debate among the House
to pass a $1 trillion, bipartisan infrastructure package. The moderate
Democrats and the progressive Democrats continue to fight over the price tag of
the bill to address President Biden’s economic agenda.

House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi delayed a vote on the $1 trillion infrastructure bill
after progressives threatened to vote against it, potentially delaying
consideration until Democrats strike an agreement on separate, much larger
social safety net and climate legislation.