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The Democrats who backed Republican shutdown deal - and why

November 10, 2025

Eight lawmakers—seven Democrats and one independent—broke ranks with their party to support a Republican deal ending the longest-ever US government shutdown. These senators, none facing reelection in 2026, cited various reasons for their votes including protecting federal workers from wrongful termination, ensuring back pay, and addressing immediate hardships like food bank lines and unpaid air traffic controllers. While Democrats had previously refused funding deals due to concerns about expiring healthcare subsidies affecting millions, these defectors argued that continued Republican refusal to address healthcare during shutdown negotiations made prolonging the impasse counterproductive.

Who is affected

  • Approximately 300,000 federal employees in Virginia and workers nationwide who were furloughed without pay
  • Military personnel who weren't receiving paychecks
  • SNAP (food assistance) recipients
  • Capitol Police officers unpaid during the shutdown
  • Air traffic controllers working without compensation
  • Healthcare recipients facing expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies
  • Military veterans relying on healthcare and food assistance programs
  • Elderly citizens and children dependent on government food programs
  • Federal workers wrongfully terminated during the shutdown

What action is being taken

  • The government is being reopened following the Senate vote
  • Federal workers are being protected from baseless firings through the legislation
  • Federal employees wrongfully terminated during the shutdown are being reinstated
  • Federal workers are receiving back pay as required by previous law
  • Cross-party spending processes are being restored

Why it matters

  • The vote ended the longest government shutdown in US history, which was causing severe hardship for federal workers and citizens dependent on government services. The deal represents a significant compromise that broke a partisan deadlock, with Democrats securing a commitment for a future vote on healthcare subsidies while immediately restoring essential government functions. The decision by these senators to cross party lines demonstrates the practical limits of political resistance when constituents face acute suffering, including unprecedented food bank lines and unpaid essential workers like air traffic controllers.

What's next

  • A vote is scheduled for December on extending Affordable Care Act tax credits
  • Senate Republican Leader John Thune is expected to keep his promise to schedule this healthcare subsidy vote
  • The Senate will work on "fixing Republicans' healthcare mess" as part of the path forward

Read full article from source: BBC

The Democrats who backed Republican shutdown deal - and why