Senate Approves Bipartisan Bill To End Historic Government Shutdown, Sending Measure To House

A small group of Senate Democrats joined Republicans on Monday night to pass a bipartisan bill funding the federal government and ending the nation’s longest-ever shutdown — even without securing their party’s demand to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that help millions afford insurance.

The measure now heads to the House, where Republican leaders hope for swift approval as early as Wednesday. The agreement, which President Donald Trump is expected to sign, would restore key programs such as federal food assistance and ensure pay for hundreds of thousands of federal employees.

Eight Democrats crossed party lines in the 60–40 vote, while only one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, opposed the bill.

The 41-day shutdown has taken a political toll, with Republicans absorbing most of the public blame in polls. The compromise, brokered by moderate Democrats, has sparked a fierce internal fight over strategy and priorities within the party.

Many Democrats wanted to continue pressing for health care concessions, but centrist members argued that Trump’s firm opposition made it impossible to achieve their goals. Instead, they won a commitment for a future vote on a health care measure of their choosing — though its passage in either chamber remains uncertain.

The late-night vote followed an intense weekend of negotiations between centrist Democrats, Republican leadership, and the White House. Talks began quietly and culminated in a public deal unveiled Sunday. The same eight Democrats who initially backed the framework — Dick Durbin, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Jeanne Shaheen, Catherine Cortez Masto, John Fetterman, Jacky Rosen, and Angus King — gave the final push Monday night.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer did not support the final bill, drawing anger from progressives for allowing moderates to cut a deal without winning protections for Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to expire soon and raise costs for millions.

Democrats expect the funding battle to return quickly, with the next deadline approaching on January 30. The current package, however, secures funding for major agencies — including those administering food aid, the Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program, and veterans’ services — through the rest of fiscal year 2026.

Attention now shifts to House Speaker Mike Johnson, who must navigate his divided caucus to pass the bill. Many expect Trump’s influence to be crucial in rallying Republican support.

In a positive signal, Trump told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, “I would say so,” when asked if he backed the deal. “I think, based on everything I’m hearing, they haven’t changed anything, and we have support from enough Democrats, and we’re going to be opening up our country,” he said. “It’s too bad it was closed, but we’ll be opening up our country very quickly.”