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US Senate passes funding bill as historic shutdown nears likely end

November 11, 2025

The US Senate approved a temporary funding bill in a 60-40 vote that would end what has become the nation's longest government shutdown, which began in October. Eight Democratic senators broke party lines to join Republicans in passing the measure, which funds government operations through late January and includes provisions for agricultural agencies, military construction, and food assistance programs. Approximately 1.

Who is affected

  • 1.4 million federal employees on unpaid leave or working without pay
  • 41 million low-income Americans receiving SNAP food benefits
  • Tens of millions of Americans who purchase health insurance through government-run exchanges
  • Air travelers experiencing cancelled and delayed flights (2,400+ cancellations and 9,000+ delays on Monday alone)
  • Federal workers represented by senators in states like Virginia and New Hampshire
  • Senate Democrats who voted for the bill (Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Jackie Rosen, Jeanne Shaheen, and independent Angus King)

What action is being taken

  • The Senate has passed the funding bill in a 60-40 vote
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson is calling House members back to Washington
  • The House of Representatives is beginning discussion of the measure on Wednesday
  • Federal employees will receive compensation for time worked during the shutdown once the bill is enacted
  • The government is being reopened with funding extended until January 30

Why it matters

  • This legislation matters because it ends the longest government shutdown in US history, which has caused widespread disruption to essential services and left over a million federal workers without pay for months. The shutdown's impacts have been far-reaching, affecting critical services like air travel safety and food assistance for vulnerable Americans. The deal's significance is also political, as it represents a rare bipartisan compromise in a deeply divided Congress, though it has exposed fissures within the Democratic Party over whether the agreement adequately addresses healthcare concerns. The temporary nature of the funding (only through January) means the underlying budget disputes remain unresolved and could resurface soon.

What's next

  • The House of Representatives will discuss the measure starting Wednesday
  • President Trump will sign the bill into effect if it passes the House
  • Federal employees will receive back pay once the bill is enacted
  • Senate Majority Leader John Thune has promised to take up the healthcare subsidies measure by the second week of December
  • The government will need new funding negotiations before January 30 when this temporary measure expires

Read full article from source: BBC