The Senate voted late Monday to conclude a government shutdown that lasted 41 days, paving the way for the House to meet later in the week to finalize the funding bill for President Trump’s approval.
The vote, which passed 60-40, will allocate funds for military construction, Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, and legislative operations through September 30, 2026, with other agencies funded until January 30.
This decision saw eight Democrats break ranks with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer from New York, revealing significant divisions within the party.
The Democrats supporting the bill included Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan from New Hampshire, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen from Nevada, Tim Kaine from Virginia, and Dick Durbin of Illinois.
Additionally, independent Senator Angus King of Maine, who aligns with the Democratic caucus, voted for the legislation.
During over two hours of debate on Sunday, Democratic senators discussed the bipartisan agreement facilitated by moderate Democrats, Republican leaders, and the White House.
The deal provoked backlash from progressive members of the House and candidates preparing for Congress next year, with some calling for Schumer to step down.
“Senator Schumer is ineffective and should be replaced. If he can’t lead on reducing rising health insurance costs, what’s he fighting for?” tweeted Rep. Ro Khanna, a prominent progressive.
Senator Bernie Sanders described the Senate Democrats’ approval of the bill as a “very bad vote” that would raise health insurance premiums for over 20 million Americans.
In response, centrist Democrats, including Senator Shaheen, defended the bill, stating that remaining in a shutdown wouldn’t benefit anyone. She emphasized the need for accountability, alluding to President Trump.
Interestingly, even Shaheen’s daughter, Stephanie, a candidate for the New Hampshire House, criticized the agreement as “unsupportable” for not extending health insurance premium subsidies.
The Senate’s passage puts the House on track to reconvene on Wednesday to vote. House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated that members would be called back within 36 hours post-Senate approval and asked the House Rules Committee to prepare for possible meetings as soon as Tuesday evening.
The House has been inactive since September 19.
President Trump expressed support for the agreement, predicting a swift reopening of the country.
The bill includes provisions to protect federal workers laid off during the shutdown and to limit any future military force reductions until next February.
However, it fails to include provisions for extending expanded health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, which are set to expire in January. Democrats prioritized these subsidies leading up to the shutdown but were left without a deal as Trump declined negotiations on healthcare costs.
King mentioned that he had discussions with Senate Majority Leader John Thune regarding a December vote on ACA subsidies, but it became increasingly apparent that Republicans wouldn’t yield in the healthcare debate as the shutdown progressed.
Kaine, who engaged with the White House to safeguard laid-off workers, agreed that Democrats likely wouldn’t secure further healthcare concessions during the shutdown.
He noted that Democrats who opted to reopen the government had previously voted in line with resistance to the shutdown, hoping for action on ACA tax credits.
After 40 days, that strategy was unproductive, he conceded.
Concerns were raised about the impact of the shutdown on air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay, potentially leading to staffing shortages and traffic issues at airports. Durbin commented that it was critical for air traffic controllers to focus on safety, free from financial stress.
With over 2,200 flight cancellations reported across the U.S. on Monday, the situation has created visible frustration for travelers.
The bill encounters a partisan struggle in the House, especially with the recent seating of Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), which slightly narrows the Republican majority.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries pledged opposition, though some moderate Democrats may break from party lines.
The Senate vote initiates discussions on a bill to be presented next month that aims to extend ACA subsidies, although Republicans are expected to push for reform.
Thune indicated that he sees potential for a healthcare agreement but emphasized that it will require reform. He expressed hope that the president would eventually pursue affordability in healthcare.
Bringing both sides to agreement will be challenging, especially since many Republicans view the Affordable Care Act as an ineffective long-term solution.
“There isn’t much interest among Republicans in maintaining the current system,” remarked Senator John Kennedy, likening it to “putting new paint on rotten wood.”
