Eight Senate Democrats joined Republicans in a 60–40 vote to advance a bipartisan deal that could end the 41-day U.S. government shutdown. Speaker Mike Johnson is targeting a Wednesday House vote as the economic toll mounts.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate moved a step closer to ending the nation’s longest government shutdown late Sunday, advancing a bipartisan deal that could reopen most federal agencies within days.
In a 60–40 vote, eight Democrats joined Republicans to move forward a stopgap spending bill, signaling a rare moment of cross-aisle cooperation after 41 days of halted paychecks, closed offices, and escalating economic strain.
A bipartisan breakthrough amid deep division
The Senate vote , 60 in favor – 40 against, was enough to clear the procedural hurdle needed to advance the measure. The eight Democrats who broke ranks were Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Dick Durbin of Illinois, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Angus King of Maine, an independent who caucuses with Democrats.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said he hopes to bring the measure to a final vote “within hours, not days.” The bill now heads toward the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson has already told colleagues he’s aiming for a Wednesday vote if the Senate completes its work in time.
What’s in the deal
The proposed agreement would extend government funding through January 2026 and package three full-year appropriations bills for defense, veterans affairs, and transportation. It also includes provisions to reverse furlough-related layoffs and prevent new workforce reductions during the funding period.
In exchange for Democratic cooperation, Senate leaders promised to hold a December vote on restoring Affordable Care Act (ACA) health-insurance tax credits, a major point of contention in the standoff.
If enacted, the deal would authorize back pay for federal workers and restart frozen programs ranging from housing grants to student-loan servicing.
Johnson calls House members back to Washington
In a private conference call Monday, Speaker Mike Johnson told Republican members he wants to bring the legislation to the floor by Wednesday, urging them to return to Washington early to avoid travel disruptions.
“The goal is to act quickly and reopen the government responsibly,” Johnson said, according to members familiar with the call. “Americans expect results, not more gridlock.”
If the Senate clears the bill, the House could vote as early as mid-week. Once approved, the measure would head to President Donald Trump, who has said he is prepared to sign it “without delay.”
Democrats divided on strategy
While the Senate’s bipartisan vote signaled progress, it also revealed divisions within the Democratic caucus. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and most Democrats opposed advancing the measure, arguing that the health-care provision should have been built directly into the bill rather than deferred to December.
Progressive members said the compromise undermines leverage in future negotiations. “This is not a victory; it’s a timeout,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
But the Democrats who supported the measure defended their decision. “You can’t keep federal workers hostage to a political fight,” said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.). “Ending this shutdown is the responsible thing to do.”
The cost of a 41-day shutdown
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the shutdown has already cut as much as 2 percentage pointsfrom fourth-quarter GDP and caused $7 billion to $14 billion in permanent economic losses.
Across the country, airports faced delays due to short staffing at the Federal Aviation Administration. Thousands of contractors have been laid off, and millions of low-income families risk losing food assistance as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) struggles to fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
A coalition of 26 states and the District of Columbia has filed suit to compel the USDA to release contingency funding for SNAP, arguing that federal law requires continuity of basic food aid even during shutdowns.
For the more than 1.2 million federal employees affected, the looming resolution offers long-delayed relief.
The road to reopening
A temporary fix with lasting stakes
Even if Congress manages to reopen the government this week, the compromise only delays the next confrontation. Lawmakers must revisit spending limits and health-care provisions in December, when the ACA vote and 2026 budget talks converge once again.
“Ending this shutdown is essential,” Thune said. “But restoring stability will take more than one vote. Americans deserve to see that Washington can govern without lurching from crisis to crisis.”
