US Senate passes deal aimed at ending longest ever government shutdown

November 10, 2025

After 40 days of government shutdown—the longest in US history—the Senate has taken a preliminary procedural step toward ending the impasse by passing an initial vote on a funding deal. The agreement, negotiated between Republican leadership and a small group of Democratic senators, secured passage when eight Democrats joined Republicans to surpass the required 60-vote threshold. The deal includes temporary government funding through January 30th, back pay for affected federal workers, extended food assistance funding, and a promise to vote on healthcare subsidies in December, though many Democrats criticized this as insufficient.

Who is affected

1.4 million federal employees on unpaid leave or working without pay
41 million low-income Americans receiving food benefits through SNAP
Tens of millions of Americans relying on healthcare subsidies through government-run exchanges
Air travelers impacted by service disruptions
Democratic senators who negotiated the deal (Jeanne Shaheen, Maggie Hassan, and Angus King)
Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Republican senators
Democratic Party leaders Chuck Schumer and critics like California Governor Gavin Newsom

What action is being taken

The Senate has passed a procedural vote on a deal to fund the government
The Senate is returning for further debate at 11:00 local time on Monday
Negotiations occurred over the weekend between Senate leadership, the White House, and select Democratic senators

Why it matters

This represents the first serious breakthrough after a record-breaking 40-day government shutdown that has suspended many essential services and left over a million federal workers without pay. The shutdown has had widespread impacts on critical services including air travel and food assistance programs that support millions of vulnerable Americans, making resolution urgent for both economic stability and public welfare.

What's next

The Senate will return for further debate on Monday at 11:00 local time (16:00 GMT)
The measure must clear several more Senate procedural hurdles
The deal must be approved by the US House of Representatives
A vote on extending healthcare subsidies is scheduled for December
Another potential government shutdown could occur when the continuing resolution expires on January 30th

Read full article from source: BBC