Senate Passes Bipartisan Deal to End 41-Day Government Shutdown

In a dramatic late-night vote, the U.S. Senate approved a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) to end the longest government shutdown in American history, sending the measure to the House of Representatives for final passage. The 60-40 vote, which saw eight Democrats join nearly all Republicans, came on the 41st day of a partial federal closure that began September 30, 2025, and has paralyzed critical services, furloughed over 1.4 million workers, and cost the economy an estimated $15 billion.

The deal, brokered after weeks of intense negotiations and direct involvement from President Donald Trump, funds the government through January 31, 2026, and includes full-year appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), military construction, the Department of Agriculture (including FDA operations), and the legislative branch. It also guarantees back pay for federal employees and mandates a structured bipartisan budget process to prevent future reliance on short-term funding patches.

“This is a victory for common sense and the American people,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) following the vote. “We’ve reopened the government, honored our veterans, and set the stage for real budget reform. Now it’s time for the House to act swiftly.”

The breakthrough came after Democrats dropped demands for an immediate extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits—set to expire at year’s end and affecting nearly 20 million Americans—agreeing instead to a commitment for a standalone vote in early 2026. In exchange, Republicans conceded on several key protections for federal workers and accepted language curbing White House authority to unilaterally withhold congressionally approved funds.

“This isn’t perfect, but it’s progress,” said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), one of the eight Democrats who crossed party lines. “We protected our veterans, kept food safety inspections running, and ensured federal workers get paid. The fight for healthcare affordability continues—but we couldn’t let the government stay closed any longer.”

The vote exposed deep divisions within both parties. Progressive Democrats, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), condemned the deal as a “surrender” on healthcare, vowing to force a vote on ACA subsidies before the new deadline. Meanwhile, a handful of conservative Republicans opposed the bill, calling it “another bloated CR” that fails to cut spending.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has scheduled a vote for Wednesday, November 12, 2025, with passage widely expected. President Trump, who personally called wavering senators over the weekend, endorsed the deal on Truth Social, writing: “Big win! Government open, veterans funded, no more games. House—DO NOT DELAY!”

If signed into law, the bill will immediately restore operations across dozens of agencies. Furloughed workers will return to their posts, national parks will reopen, passport services will resume, and delayed Small Business Administration loans will begin processing. The IRS has also confirmed that tax refund processing, halted since October 15, will restart within 72 hours of enactment.

The 41-day shutdown—the longest in U.S. history, surpassing the 35-day impasse of 2018–2019—has left deep scars. Over 41 million low-income Americans lost access to SNAP benefits for weeks, forcing many to rely on food banks. Air travel was thrown into chaos as unpaid TSA officers called in sick en masse, leading to flight cancellations and security line delays of up to six hours. National parks, including Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, remained closed, costing local economies millions in lost tourism revenue.

Federal workers, many living paycheck to paycheck, faced evictions, missed mortgage payments, and turned to gig jobs to survive. “I haven’t been paid since September,” said Maria Lopez, a 12-year FDA inspector from Maryland. “We kept working without pay because food safety doesn’t wait. This deal means I can finally pay my bills.”

Economists warn the damage may linger. The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the shutdown shaved 0.2% off Q4 GDP growth, with ripple effects in contracting, tourism, and consumer confidence. Global markets reacted positively to Monday’s vote, with the Dow rising 380 points in after-hours trading.

As the House prepares to vote, all eyes are on whether hardline conservatives will attempt last-minute amendments. Speaker Johnson has signaled a “clean” vote with no changes, backed by Trump’s public pressure.

If the House approves the bill unchanged, President Trump is expected to sign it into law by Thursday, November 13, 2025, officially ending the crisis.

For millions of Americans, the message is clear: the government is coming back online—but the battle over healthcare, spending, and fiscal responsibility is far from over.