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The Senate voted 60–40 Sunday night to take the first step toward ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, setting up final action later this week to reopen the government after 40 days of halted services and furloughed workers.
The vote came just hours after a group of Democratic senators agreed to support a spending framework that would fund several major federal agencies through the full fiscal year and all others through Jan. 30, 2026.
In exchange, the Trump administration pledged to rehire federal employees terminated during the funding lapse, provide back pay, and allow a December Senate vote on extending expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits.
“After 40 long days, I’m hopeful we can bring this shutdown to an end,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) shortly before the vote.
Inside the deal
The agreement, brokered by Thune and Democratic negotiators Sens. Angus King (I-Maine), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), was backed by rank-and-file Republicans and members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, including Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine).
The continuing resolution released Sunday funds the Department of Agriculture and the FDA, the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction, and Congressional operations through the entire fiscal year. All other agencies will be funded until Jan. 30.
The package also includes:
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Full back pay and rehiring guarantees for laid-off federal workers.
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A requirement that agencies withdraw layoff notices issued during the shutdown and provide written reports to Congress on compensation owed.
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A temporary ban on reductions-in-force across federal departments through the end of January.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who represents roughly 150,000 federal workers, pushed for the worker protections in the final hours of talks and said the White House approved the language late Sunday.
“To earn my vote, we need to be on a path toward fixing Republicans’ health care mess and protecting the federal workforce,” Kaine said.
He was seen shaking hands with Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), who helped finalize the compromise.
Political divisions remain
Despite bipartisan relief over the breakthrough, progressive Democrats criticized the deal for not guaranteeing an ACA tax credit extension.
“The American people want us to stand and fight for health care,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who announced she would vote “no.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) echoed that sentiment, vowing to oppose any spending bill that does not immediately extend the ACA credits.
“We will not support spending legislation advanced by Senate Republicans that fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits,” Jeffries said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also withheld his support, accusing Trump of holding the country “hostage.”
“We asked President Trump to step in and meet with us to deliver lower health care for Americans,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “Instead, Donald Trump has taken the American people hostage. I must vote no.”
Meanwhile, a handful of centrist House Democrats have signaled they may vote to reopen the government if the Senate finalizes the agreement this week, offsetting opposition from hard-line Republicans or progressives.
Obstacles to final passage
Although Sunday’s procedural vote signals strong bipartisan momentum, the path to final passage is not guaranteed.
Progressive senators are refusing to fast-track the process, which could delay final approval for several days. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has also threatened to slow consideration unless the Senate votes on an amendment removing hemp-related language from one of the bills.
Three GOP senators — Mike Lee (Utah), Ron Johnson (Wis.), and Rick Scott (Fla.) — expressed frustration with the overall budget process and indicated they may demand votes on separate fiscal reform proposals.
Still, the Senate is expected to clear the package before leaving for its scheduled weeklong recess, sending it to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) plans to brief members Monday morning.
If the House approves the deal and President Trump signs it, the shutdown will officially end, restoring pay to hundreds of thousands of federal employees and reopening shuttered agencies nationwide.
At a Sunday night football game outside Washington, Trump told reporters he was optimistic:
“It looks like we’re getting very close to the shutdown ending.”
