The US Senate has taken a major step toward ending the longest government shutdown in American history, voting to advance a bipartisan funding agreement after weeks of gridlock in Washington.
Following intense weekend negotiations, a minority of Senate Democrats joined Republicans on Sunday, November 9, to approve the first procedural motion on the measure with a 60–40 vote. The move paves the way for final passage later this week.
Breakthrough After 40 Days of Deadlock
The procedural vote followed a breakthrough deal that would fully fund several federal departments and programs for the 2025 fiscal year, while extending funding for all remaining agencies until January 30, 2026.
As part of the agreement, the Trump administration committed to rehiring government workers who were terminated at the start of the funding lapse and to allowing a Senate vote in December on legislation extending expiring Obamacare tax credits.
Eight members of the Senate Democratic Caucus voted to advance the House-passed stopgap funding bill, which serves as the vehicle for the larger bipartisan package.
“This is a significant moment,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said ahead of the vote. “After 40 long days, I’m hopeful we can finally bring this shutdown to an end.”
What the Funding Package Covers
The legislative package includes funding for:
The Department of Agriculture and the FDA
The Department of Veterans Affairs
Military construction projects
Congressional operations for the entire fiscal year
Other agencies would continue to operate under temporary funding through January 30, according to the text of the continuing resolution released Sunday.
The agreement must still pass the House of Representatives before it can reach the president’s desk and formally reopen the government.
Negotiations and Remaining Challenges
The framework was negotiated by Majority Leader John Thune alongside Sens. Angus King, Jeanne Shaheen, and Maggie Hassan, with input from Sen. Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
However, a few conservative senators including Mike Lee, Ron Johnson, and Rick Scott expressed reservations, temporarily delaying the vote while discussing broader budget process reforms. Thune also noted that Sen. Rand Paul is pushing for a separate vote to remove certain hemp-related provisions from the funding bill.
Despite the hurdles, Sunday’s vote sent a strong signal that Senate GOP leaders now have enough support to pass the measure and end the record-breaking shutdown.
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