Senate Moves Toward Ending 40-Day Government Shutdown But Not Without Turmoil
After more than a month of political gridlock and economic anxiety, the U.S. The Senate appears ready to take its first concrete steps toward ending the 40-day government shutdown though not everyone is celebrating the compromise that might make it happen.
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On Sunday evening, a fragile coalition of moderate Democrats and Republicans began to coalesce around a deal that would reopen the government and fund key agencies through late January. But the decision, particularly the moderates’ willingness to move forward without a guaranteed extension of Affordable Care Act health subsidies, has exposed a sharp divide within the Democratic Party.
The Deal That Broke the Stalemate
The tentative agreement, led by former governors Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, along with Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine, offers a pathway to reopen shuttered federal offices. It would fund three major spending bills and temporarily extend funding for the rest of the government.
Importantly, it includes a future vote on the contested health care subsidies, but without any guarantee of passage. It also reinstates federal workers who were laid off during the shutdown and reimburses states that used their own funds to keep vital programs afloat.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune threw his weight behind the plan Sunday night, calling for an immediate vote to move the process forward.
“We must not delay any longer,” said Sen. Susan Collins, the Republican chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “I’m relieved we’re finally on a path toward ending this unnecessary shutdown.”
A Fractured Democratic Front
While the deal edges closer to reopening the government, it’s come at a cost. Many Democrats are furious that the proposal does not include a firm commitment to extend health care subsidies, a cornerstone issue for their caucus.
After a tense two-hour meeting, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer announced he could not “in good faith” support the compromise.
“America is in the midst of a Republican-made health care crisis,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “To give up the fight now would be to abandon millions of families who depend on affordable coverage.”
Progressive voices were even more blunt. Sen. Bernie Sanders called the decision to concede on health care “a horrific mistake,” warning that it sends the wrong message at a time when public trust in government is already thin.
In the House, Rep. Greg Casar of Texas branded the deal “a betrayal,” arguing that accepting “nothing but a pinky promise” from Republicans on health care reform amounted to “capitulation.”
What the Deal Would Do
If passed, the agreement would:
Reopen and fund critical government operations through late January
Reimburse states that covered costs during the shutdown
Reinstate federal workers and guarantee back pay
Provide $203.5 million in added security funding for lawmakers amid rising threats
Keep the ban on congressional pay raises
Include a McConnell-backed provision restricting sales of certain hemp-based products
Republicans would still need five Democratic votes to advance the deal, and early indications suggest they may have just enough with Sens. Shaheen, Hassan, King, and Tim Kaine of Virginia all signaling support.
“To earn my vote, we needed to protect the federal workforce and at least set the stage for fixing this health care mess,” Kaine said.
The Health Care Showdown Ahead
Even if the government reopens, the Affordable Care Act subsidies, a flashpoint in this political saga, remain unresolved. Republicans say they’ll allow a vote by mid-December, but House Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to guarantee it.
Some GOP lawmakers have hinted at limited support for extending the pandemic-era tax credits that lower premiums, but others including Donald Trump have used the moment to renew attacks on the ACA.
“THE WORST HEALTHCARE FOR THE HIGHEST PRICE,” Trump wrote on social media Sunday, reigniting calls to repeal or overhaul the law.
Real-World Consequences Mount
Meanwhile, the impact of the shutdown’s 40th day is rippling across the country. Air travel chaos reached a breaking point Sunday, with more than 2,000 flight cancellations and 7,000 delays, according to FlightAware. Treasury Secretary Sean Duffy warned that travel ahead of Thanksgiving could be “reduced to a trickle” if the impasse continues.
Millions of Americans relying on food assistance and veterans’ benefits are also feeling the strain, while furloughed federal workers await back pay and answers.
The Bottom Line
The Senate’s emerging deal offers a glimmer of hope after six weeks of shutdown paralysis, but it’s far from a clean victory for either side. Democrats are split between pragmatism and principle, Republicans are eager to declare a win without touching health care, and the White House at least for now remains cautiously optimistic.
“It looks like we’re getting close to the shutdown ending,” Trump said Sunday evening after returning from a football game.
Still, in Washington’s long tradition of political brinkmanship, nothing is over until the ink dries and even then, the scars of this shutdown may linger well beyond its official end.
