The Senate on Monday cleared a procedural hurdle for a funding package widely expected to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The motion passed 60-40 after seven Democrats and one independent joined all Republican senators to move forward; the full Senate will next vote on the funding bill before it goes to the House.
The compromise would keep most federal agencies operating at current funding levels through January 2026. It includes three year-long provisions covering certain programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs, USDA and FDA programs, and operations for the legislative branch. The measure also contains provisions aimed at protecting federal employees: it bars mass workforce reductions during the shutdown, reverses dismissals made during the shutdown, prohibits additional cuts through the end of January, and guarantees back pay to furloughed workers who missed paychecks.
The agreement does not immediately extend the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that helped trigger the 40-day stalemate. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the Senate would take up the subsidies later this year, and supporters of the compromise — including House Speaker Mike Johnson and former President Donald Trump — urged a quick House vote and swift delivery to the president’s desk.
Eight Democrats who helped shape the deal drew sharp criticism from some party leaders and activists for not securing immediate healthcare relief. Those lawmakers say the package includes a commitment to consider a healthcare bill by mid-December. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, one of the Democrats who voted to advance the measure, defended the choice as the most viable path to reopen the government.
Opponents pointed out that even if Senate Democrats later pass a healthcare measure, there is no guarantee the Republican-controlled House would approve it. Republicans rejected an amendment from Senator Tammy Baldwin to extend ACA premium tax credits for a year, and Speaker Johnson declined to promise a House vote on the subsidies, characterizing the process as “deliberative.”
Lawmakers and administration officials stressed urgency: hundreds of thousands of federal employees were furloughed without pay, millions risked disruptions to food assistance, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned of unprecedented strain on air traffic controllers and potential travel impacts if the shutdown continued. The procedural vote also prompted targeted backlash against Senate leadership, with some calling for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s resignation even though he voted against the measure and criticized its terms.
