The U.S. Senate on Friday approved a funding extension bill for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), ending a two-week partial shutdown of the agency and enabling tens of thousands of federal employees and construction workers to resume their work.

The bill, which was already approved by the House of Representatives before lawmakers left Washington for summer recess, cleared the Senate using a procedure that did not require lawmakers to be present to cast individual votes. The bill is now sent to President Barack Obama's desk for his signature.

The swift passage followed a compromise deal struck by House and Senate leaders Thursday. Under the arrangement, the Senate will pass the House bill including a provision to cut subsidies to rural flight service, which is strongly opposed by many Democrats. However, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will then use his authority to waive the subsidy reduction.

The FAA partially shut down on July 23 due to an impasse over temporary funding for the agency. Nearly 4,000 federal employees and 70,000 construction workers were furloughed due to the stand- off.

The stalemate centers on disagreements between Republicans and Democrats over a program that subsidizes commercial air service to rural airports in Nevada, West Virginia and Montana. But reports indicated the real fight is over federal rules on labor elections in the airline industry.