Senate Passes Bipartisan Deal to End 41-Day Government Shutdown

By Mark Swanson | Monday, 10 November 2025 10:16 PM EST
The Senate on Monday voted to pass a new bipartisan continuing resolution to end the 41-day government shutdown and reopen the government. The measure, approved by a vote of 60-40, funds military construction, veterans’ affairs, the Department of Agriculture, and the legislative branch through Sept. 30, 2026, while extending funding for the rest of the government through Jan. 30.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., thanked unpaid staff and Capitol Police who remained on the floor during the vote, acknowledging the “immense strain” endured over six weeks. “I am very, very happy to be able to say we are coming to the end,” Thune stated. The legislation now moves to the House for approval before reaching President Donald Trump, who expressed support for the agreement as a “very good deal.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., announced voting will begin on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET. Johnson urged lawmakers to return to Washington promptly, citing shutdown-related travel disruptions and emphasizing urgency in finalizing the measure.

The compromise involved three former governors—Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, Maggie Hassan, and Angus King—who agreed to advance bipartisan spending bills in exchange for Republican commitments to vote on extending Obamacare premium tax credits by mid-December. Shaheen defended the deal as the “option on the table” after Republicans refused concessions.

The legislation reverses federal worker layoffs from the Trump administration and ensures back pay upon government reopening. It also includes support from Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and other Democrats, though all but five Senate Democrats opposed the measure. Progressive factions condemned the agreement as a “horrific mistake,” with Sen. Bernie Sanders calling it a betrayal of healthcare reform efforts.

Republicans face internal divisions over extending subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, with some advocating eligibility reforms. Meanwhile, Trump and GOP leaders renewed calls to overhaul Obamacare, signaling potential future conflicts. The Senate’s 47-53 vote on subsidy extensions reflected party-line divisions ahead of December negotiations.