After 41 long days of a tense government shutdown, there’s finally movement on Capitol Hill. Late Sunday night, the Senate voted to advance a House-passed short-term funding bill, marking the first major step toward reopening the government.
🏛️ What’s Happening
The measure, aimed at ending the shutdown, passed its first Senate hurdle with a 60-40 vote. Eight Democrats joined most Republicans to push it forward, while GOP Senator Rand Paul was the only Republican to vote against it.
A final vote is still several days away, and the bill will also need to clear the House of Representatives before reaching the president’s desk. House leaders have already told members to be ready for a possible vote this week.
The Senate will reconvene at 11 a.m. Monday to continue work on the deal.
📜 What’s in the Deal
Senate negotiators are now working to expand the short-term bill into a larger agreement that would:
- Extend government funding through January, and
- Attach three long-term spending bills to stabilize future budgets.
As part of the bargain, Senate Republicans promised to hold a future vote on extending health insurance tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). These credits — which help millions of Americans afford health care — are set to expire at the end of the year.
However, most Republicans have already said they’ll oppose the extension, meaning health insurance premiums could skyrocket for those relying on ACA coverage.
💥 Democratic Frustration
Many Senate Democrats voted against advancing the bill, arguing that it fails to protect the ACA tax credits — their top demand during the shutdown standoff.
Some party members and progressive activists blasted the eight Democrats who sided with Republicans, accusing them of giving up leverage without securing real progress on health care.
The eight Democrats who voted to move forward are:
- Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada)
- Dick Durbin (Illinois)
- John Fetterman (Pennsylvania)
- Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire)
- Tim Kaine (Virginia)
- Angus King (Maine, Independent)
- Jacky Rosen (Nevada)
- Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire)
💬 What Lawmakers Are Saying
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, one of the Democrats who supported the deal, defended her vote on CBS Mornings.
“Keeping the government shut down for another week or month wouldn’t change the outcome,” she said.
Shaheen, a key Democratic negotiator, emphasized the toll the shutdown has taken on federal workers and families — from unpaid employees to people relying on SNAP benefits.
“We stood up to President Trump for 40 days,” she added. “But the reason we’re here is because Trump and Republicans refused to fund health care to keep costs affordable.”
She also argued that the deal puts pressure on House Speaker Mike Johnson, saying,
“This agreement is going to force Speaker Johnson to bring the House back in. He’s been out since the beginning of September.”
🕰️ What’s Next
The Senate will continue working through a series of procedural votes that could take several days. Even a single senator could delay progress.
Once the bill clears the Senate, the House must pass it before it can reach the president.
If all goes smoothly, the U.S. government could reopen later this week — bringing an end to one of the longest shutdowns in recent years.
