After weeks of political stalemate, the Senate on Sunday night advanced a bipartisan deal that could bring an end to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The 60–40 vote saw eight Democrats join Republicans to push forward a short-term spending bill that would reopen most federal agencies and fund the government through January.
The measure still faces several hurdles before becoming law. The Senate must formally pass the package before sending it to the House, where members were told to prepare for potential votes later this week. If approved by both chambers, the legislation would then go to President Trump for his signature.
The deal represents the first major breakthrough since the shutdown began more than a month ago, furloughing hundreds of thousands of federal workers, delaying food assistance for millions, and disrupting air travel and government services nationwide.
Under the compromise, the government would be funded into early 2026 through a series of temporary and targeted spending bills. The agreement includes three separate appropriations covering agriculture, military construction, and legislative agencies. It also provides retroactive pay for federal employees affected by the shutdown and reverses any layoffs that occurred during the funding lapse.
However, the deal has exposed divisions within the Democratic Party. Several House Democrats, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, signaled opposition to the package, arguing that it concedes too much to Republicans by omitting an extension of health insurance subsidies set to expire at year’s end.
For weeks, Democrats had insisted that any agreement include permanent or long-term extensions of those subsidies. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer recently scaled back that demand to a one-year renewal, but Republicans rejected the proposal. Instead, Senate Majority Leader John Thune agreed to hold a separate vote in December on a one-year extension, a promise many Democrats view as symbolic rather than substantive.
Even so, Sunday’s bipartisan vote suggests that enough political momentum has built to finally reopen the federal government. The shutdown has stretched into its second month, straining essential services and eroding public patience with both parties.
If the deal advances as expected, federal agencies could begin recalling furloughed workers within days.
Source: NYT