The US Senate has passed a long-awaited funding bill to end the longest-running government shutdown in American history, which stretched into its 41st day on Monday.
The bipartisan measure—proposed by US President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans—received crucial support from eight Democrats, clearing the final Senate hurdle and now heading to the House of Representatives for approval.
After it is approved by the House, the legislation will move to President Trump’s desk for his signature, formally reopening the federal government and restoring operations across multiple agencies.
Senate Breaks Logjam After 41 Days
After weeks of deadlock, the Senate finally reached a breakthrough late Monday night. The chamber approved a bipartisan funding package that combined an updated continuing resolution (CR) with three spending bills, forming what lawmakers called a “minibus” funding package.
According to Reuters, eight members of the Senate Democratic caucus joined Republicans to push the bill through key procedural votes, effectively handing the responsibility of reopening the government to the House.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who has been pushing for a short-term funding deal since the shutdown began, reiterated his commitment to holding a vote on expiring Obamacare subsidies “no later than the second week of December.
“I think everybody’s pretty united [behind] this bill,” Thune said as the measure advanced through the Senate.
Contours of the Bipartisan Deal
The Republican-backed agreement will fund several key parts of the federal government—including food aid, veterans’ programs, and the legislative branch—through January 30, 2026.
It also guarantees a December vote on healthcare subsidies, a major sticking point during negotiations.
The bill will reinstate laid-off federal workers, compensate furloughed employees with back pay, and reimburse states that used their own funds to maintain essential federal programs during the shutdown.
Democratic Division: Schumer Faces Backlash
While Republicans hold a 53–47 majority in the Senate, they needed at least seven Democrats to meet the 60-vote threshold required to end debate and reopen the government. Ultimately, eight Democrats crossed the aisle to endorse the GOP-led package.
However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) opposed the bill, arguing that it lacked a firm guarantee on extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. Schumer had long insisted that any reopening of the government must include a concrete deal on healthcare.
In the end, eight Senate Democrats accepted Sen. Thune’s verbal commitment to a December vote.
“This was the only deal on the table. It was our best chance to reopen the government and immediately begin negotiations to extend the [Obamacare] tax credits that tens of millions of Americans rely on to keep costs down,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), one of the eight Democrats who voted with Republicans.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) added, “Republicans were not going to budge on healthcare until after the government reopened, but promises of protections for federal employees during future shutdowns and back pay for those furloughed persuaded me to support the package.”
Progressives Turn on Schumer
The decision has sparked anger among progressive Democrats, who argue that the deal provides no real guarantee that the Republican-controlled Congress will follow through on healthcare subsidies.
Many critics have placed blame squarely on Schumer’s leadership. While removing Schumer as minority leader would require a vote among the 45 Democrats and two independents who caucus with them, progressives have already begun calling for change.
The advocacy group Our Revolution publicly urged Schumer to resign, echoing calls from Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who said in a statement, “Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom, widely seen as a 2028 Democratic presidential contender, blasted the deal on social media, calling it: “Pathetic. This isn’t a deal. It’s surrender.”
Next Steps: House Vote Expected Midweek
The legislation now moves to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has vowed to move swiftly.
“We’re going to plan on voting, on being here, at least by Wednesday,” Johnson told colleagues during a private call. “While the schedule could shift later in the week, right now we think we’re on track for a vote on Wednesday. So we need you here.”
Johnson also noted that the House would not fast-track the bill under suspension of the rules, which would require a two-thirds majority. Instead, the House Rules Committee is expected to act as early as Tuesday to pave the way for a midweek vote.
President Donald Trump has praised the agreement, calling it a “very good deal” that will bring stability back to Washington after more than a month of gridlock.
What lies Ahead?
If the House passes the bill, it will mark the formal end of the 2025 U.S. government shutdown, restoring operations and pay for hundreds of thousands of federal workers. However, with the funding deadline set for late January, lawmakers will soon face another showdown over long-term budget priorities and healthcare funding.
As Washington takes a collective sigh of relief, one thing is clear—the political reverberations of this 41-day shutdown are far from over.
