U.S. Senate funding vote end longest government shutdown
The United States Senate has taken a pivotal vote to advance a government funding plan that would end the longest federal shutdown in U.S. history. On November 9, 2025, the body voted 60-40 to proceed with a stopgap funding bill that would reopen major federal agencies through January 30, 2026, and retroactively ensure pay for federal workers and those furloughed during the shutdown.
The funding deal emerged from difficult weekend negotiations between a small group of moderate Democrats, led by Angus King (I-Maine) and others, and Senate Republicans. The agreement did not include an immediate extension of premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which had been a core demand by many Democrats. Instead, Republicans committed to holding a separate vote on those subsidies by early December.
Some leading Democrats, including Chuck Schumer, opposed the package on the grounds that it fails to guarantee healthcare protections and does not adequately address rising premium costs for millions of Americans under the ACA.
The shutdown began on October 1, 2025, and by early November had stretched into its 40th day, disrupting hundreds of thousands of federal workers, the food-aid system, and national air travel.
