Senate Passes Bill To End Government Shutdown

On Monday night (November 10), the U.S. Senate voted 60 to 40 to approve a funding measure to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. A small group of Senate Democrats joined Republicans in passing the bill, which now moves to the House for consideration. President Donald Trump is expected to sign the measure once it reaches his desk.

The funding bill, which does not include the extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies that Democrats sought, aims to reopen the government and restore critical services. These include federal food aid and pay for hundreds of thousands of federal workers. The bill funds the government through January 30, with some agencies funded through September 2026.

Eight members of the Senate Democratic caucus, including Senators Dick Durbin, Maggie Hassan, and Tim Kaine, voted with Republicans. The deal has sparked debate within the Democratic Party, with some members criticizing the lack of health care subsidies. However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has promised a vote on the subsidies by mid-December.

The House is expected to vote on the measure as early as Wednesday (November 12). House Speaker Mike Johnson has urged members to return to Washington for the vote. The bill's passage in the House is uncertain due to opposition from both Democrats and hard-line Republicans.

President Trump expressed support for the deal, stating, "We'll be opening up our country very quickly." The shutdown, which lasted 41 days, caused significant disruptions, including missed paychecks for federal workers and air travel delays. The funding package also includes provisions for back pay for furloughed workers and reverses layoffs made during the shutdown.