After a record 41-day government shutdown, the U.S. Senate voted 60–40 on November 10, 2025, to approve legislation reopening the federal government and ending the longest closure in American history. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives, which has been in recess since mid-September, for a final vote expected later this week.
President Donald Trump signaled his support for the measure, saying, “We’re going to be opening up our country very quickly.” The Senate vote marked the end of a brutal standoff that left hundreds of thousands of federal employees unpaid, delayed food assistance, and disrupted air travel nationwide.
The legislation came after weeks of failed negotiations between Democrats and Republicans over the extension of health care tax credits set to expire on January 1. Ultimately, five moderate Democrats — including Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Maggie Hassan, Angus King, Tim Kaine, and Catherine Cortez Masto — crossed party lines to back the Republican proposal. Their support was just enough to push the bill through.
The deal extends federal funding until late January and reverses the mass firings of federal workers ordered during the shutdown. It also guarantees back pay and temporarily protects against further layoffs. In exchange, Republicans pledged to hold a December vote on extending health care subsidies — a key Democratic demand — though there is no guarantee of passage.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) thanked Capitol staff and police who worked unpaid during the shutdown, calling it “six excruciating weeks” for the country. House Speaker Mike Johnson urged lawmakers to “return to Washington right now,” citing travel delays caused by the shutdown’s impact on federal services.
The shutdown, which began on October 1, stemmed from a budget impasse over health care and federal spending priorities. Despite the compromise, deep divisions remain: Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, along with most of his caucus, voted against the bill, calling it a “mistake” that weakened Democrats’ leverage on health care reform.
Independent Senator Bernie Sanders called the deal “a horrific mistake,” while Senator Chris Murphy argued Democrats “could have won” had they held out longer. Yet others, like House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, praised Schumer’s leadership and said the party had “sounded the alarm” on health care issues.
The next challenge looms in December, when the Senate must revisit the question of extending COVID-era tax credits that help millions afford coverage. Some Republicans, including Sen. Susan Collins, expressed openness to an extension with new income caps, while hardliners and Trump allies renewed calls to overhaul or repeal the Affordable Care Act entirely.
The House is expected to vote within days once members return to Washington. If approved, the bill would reopen all federal agencies and restore pay to workers by week’s end, marking the formal end of the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
Comments
Post a Comment