Senate Moves Towards Ending Government Shutdown with New Deal

Mon Nov 10 2025 10:47:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The U.S. Senate has passed a crucial deal that aims to end the ongoing government shutdown, marking a pivotal moment after a lengthy 40-day impasse. The agreement, supported by a minority of Democrats and Republicans, still faces several challenges before it can fully restore government operations.

In a significant step towards resolving the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, the Senate has passed a deal after extensive negotiations. This agreement received bipartisan support and is seen as a critical first step, but it must navigate through the House of Representatives before federal employees can return to work. The deal also addresses funding for critical services affected by the shutdown.

A deal aimed at ending the US government shutdown has passed the Senate, paving the way for the record-breaking impasse to be broken.

After a weekend of negotiations in Washington, a minority of Democrats joined with Republicans and voted in favour of an agreement.

The vote is a procedural first step towards passing a compromise to fund the government since it ran out of money on October 1.

It will need to clear several more hurdles - including a vote from the House of Representatives - before federal employees and services return, but it is the first serious sign of progress after 40 days of deadlock.

The current shutdown is the longest on record in the US, and until this weekend it appeared that Republican and Democratic lawmakers were locked in a stalemate.

Many government services have been suspended since October, affecting approximately 1.4 million federal employees who are on unpaid leave or working without pay.

The shutdown has led to significant disruptions across various services, including US air travel and food benefits for 41 million low-income Americans.

The agreement was negotiated between Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the White House, with Democratic senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, and Angus King of Maine, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats.

With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate, they needed the measure to clear a 60-vote minimum threshold and successfully attracted eight votes from the Democrats, while only losing one vote from Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who opposed the bill on concerns over increasing national debt.

The deal encompasses a vote in December on extending healthcare subsidies that are set to expire this year, a key issue for which Democrats had previously sought concessions.

Democratic Party leaders stated they would delay supporting new funding for government operations until Congress addressed the healthcare subsidies vital for many Americans.

Senate Majority Leader Thune expressed optimism about the bipartisan support for solutions to the healthcare crisis but refrained from detailing the bill's content, which has frustrated numerous Democrats.

Thune acknowledged that some have criticized the negotiations; however, he emphasized the importance of moving forward. Chuck Schumer, the party leader in the Senate, argued that the deal fails to adequately address the healthcare crisis.

Additionally, the measure includes provisions for appropriations to fund agencies such as veterans affairs and agriculture, while ensuring all federal employees receive pay for the duration of the shutdown.

As the agreement proceeds, it will require approval in the House of Representatives, where it may face its own challenges.