After 40 days of deadlock, the US Senate has passed a bipartisan deal aimed at reopening the federal government, the longest shutdown in American history.
The agreement, negotiated by Senate Majority Leader John Thune with Democrats Jeanne Shaheen, Maggie Hassan, and Independent Angus King, cleared a key procedural hurdle late Sunday. Eight Democrats joined Republicans to move the bill forward, while most of their party opposed it over health-care concessions.
The deal includes:
- A continuing resolution to fund the government through January 30, 2026
- Full-year funding for Veterans Affairs and Agriculture
- Back-pay guarantees for all furloughed federal workers
- SNAP benefits funded through September 2026
- A December vote on extending health-care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act
1.4 million federal employees have been furloughed or working without pay since October 1, with major disruptions to air travel and food assistance.
Democrats remain divided. Chuck Schumer called the bill “a disappointment,” arguing it fails to protect health-care subsidies, while some moderates defended the move as the only path to reopen government.
The White House welcomed the progress, calling it a first step toward restoring services.
The bill now heads to the House of Representatives, where passage remains uncertain — and with another funding deadline looming in January, the risk of a new shutdown isn’t off the table yet.
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