Is the Longest Government Shutdown Finally Ending?

After 41 days, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history may be nearing its conclusion. On Sunday night, the Senate voted 60–40 to advance a bipartisan package that would reopen the government through Jan. 30, paired with three full-year spending bills covering veterans’ programs, agriculture, and the legislative branch, according to the Associated Press News.

The measure includes provisions to reverse federal worker layoffs and prevent additional reductions in force through January, ensuring that federal employees are paid once the government reopens. 

It also promises a mid-December vote on expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies, though the extension of those subsidies is not guaranteed, sparking criticism from some Democrats who have long pushed for action on health care.

Eight Senate Democrats broke with their party to support the procedural vote, joining Republicans in moving the deal forward. They include Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Dick Durbin of Illinois, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Independent Angus King of Maine, as reported by the Courier Journal.

These moderates argued that the shutdown strategy had reached a point of diminishing returns. “After 40 days, it wasn’t gonna work,” Senator Kaine told MSNBC reporters.

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer voted against the package, saying he could not “in good faith” support a bill that does not secure health care subsidies. Senator Bernie Sanders described the compromise as “a horrific mistake,” while others noted that ongoing delays were increasingly affecting federal workers, SNAP recipients, and other public services.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune quickly endorsed the deal, calling for swift action. President Donald Trump said, “It looks like we’re getting close to the shutdown ending,” though he has not formally endorsed the package.

The Senate was scheduled to reconvene on Monday to finalize the vote. Once approved, the bill will move to the House, which could take it up midweek, and then on to President Trump for signature, according to the Courier Journal.

While the shutdown’s formal end still requires these final votes, lawmakers in both parties expressed cautious optimism that federal workers, travelers, and recipients of government assistance could soon see relief after six weeks of disruptions.