The longest government shutdown in U.S. history looks set to end after Senate Democrats sided with Republicans to pass a stopgap measure late Sunday.
The deal does not extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, which Democrats have been fighting for during the shutdown, and still needs to pass the House.
It comes as 42 million low income families lost crucial SNAP benefits to help pay for groceries after funding expired and the Trump administration fought a court order to pay.
Highlights
- Senate Democrats joined Republicans to pass a stopgap measure aimed at ending the longest U.S. government shutdown, but ACA subsidies were excluded.
- Senate Minority Leader Schumer faced calls for resignation, while leaders like Gavin Newsom and Ro Khanna sharply criticized the deal.
- The deal reinstates federal workers dismissed during shutdown and secures SNAP funding through fiscal year 2026, but still needs to pass the House.
Seven Senate Democrats sided with Republicans to pass a stopgap measure
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More than a million federal workers have also been left without an income, and thousands of flights have been cancelled because of the shutdown.
Seven Democrats and one independent voted with the GOP to push through the measure, which will fund the government until late January.
The only concession on health care is that a vote will be held on whether to extend ACA subsidies, due to expire in 2026, in mid-December.
Several members of the party have blasted the Senate Democrats who voted to pass the stopgap, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries vowing Democrats will fight the deal.
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is also taking heat and facing calls for his resignation after the vote happened under his watch.
“Tonight’s Senate vote on the federal government shutdown should have been a time for strength,” California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X.
“Instead we saw capitulation and a betrayal of working Americans.”
Newsom, widely seen as a 2028 presidential contender, added: “The American people need more from their leaders.”
On his official press office X page, his criticism went even further.
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“Pathetic. This isn’t a deal. It’s a surrender. Don’t bend the knee!” One tweet read.
California Rep. Ro Khanna slammed Schumer after the Senate vote passed 60-40.
“Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced,” he said on X. “If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?”
The agreement contains a provision that guarantees federal workers dismissed during the shutdown will be reinstated to their positions, along with a commitment that similar actions will not occur again in the future.
Additionally, it secures funding for the food stamp program through the conclusion of the 2026 fiscal year.
The 40-day shutdown has caused traffic chaos, and left families without SNAP benefits and workers without pay
The seven Democrats who sided with Republicans were Tim Kaine of Virginia, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.
Independent Angus King of Maine also sided with the group.
In a statement, Kaine portrayed the deal as a win for guaranteeing a vote on ACA subsidies and welcomed the protections for federal workers.
“This legislation will protect federal workers from baseless firings, reinstate those who have been wrongfully terminated during the shutdown, and ensure federal workers receive back pay, as required by a law I got passed in 2019,” he said.
“That's a critical step that will help federal employees and all Americans who rely on government services.”
While Democrats have voted down GOP proposals 14 times since the shutdown began 40 days ago, Durbin said this measure was different.
“Republicans finally woke up and realized their Groundhog Day needed to end,” he said on X.
“This bill is not perfect, but it takes important steps to reduce their shutdown’s hurt. Not only would it fully fund SNAP for the year ahead, but it would reverse the mass firings the Trump Administration ordered throughout the shutdown.
“Now that Democrats secured these wins, it’s time for Leader [John] Thune to keep his promise to schedule a vote on the ACA tax credits in December and we will see to it that he makes good on his word for the millions of Americans worried they won’t be able to afford health care in January.”
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The position of the eight Senators that the new measure is a win is not shared by many in the party, including leadership.
“America is far too expensive. We will not support sending legislation advanced by Senate Republicans that fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits,” Jeffries said in a statement.
“We will fight the GOP bill in the House of Representatives, where Mike Johnson will be compelled to end the seven week Republican taxpayer-funded vacation.
“Donald Trump and the Republican Party own the toxic mess they have created in our country and the American people know it.”
Hakeem Jeffries said House Democrats would fight the legislation
Trump has not publicly commented on the deal passing the Senate, which still needs to pass the House and reach his desk for a signature.
However, he did speak to reporters ahead of the vote at the White House on Sunday.
“It looks like we’re getting close to the shutdown ending,” Trump said.
“We’ll never agree to give any substantial money, or any money, to illegals that come into this country, and I think the Democrats understand that.”