Is the longest government shutdown in American history about to finally end? New developments over the weekend signaled that the standoff could be over, as the possibility of an agreement came to light.
As it turned out, eight Senate Democrats broke ranks with their party leadership and voted with Republicans to advance a deal that could reopen the government this week.
So what’s actually in this deal? Why did some Democrats support it and why are others are furious? And what could still go wrong?
Here’s everything you need to know about this historic agreement.
What Happened: The 40-Day Standoff Finally Breaks
The federal government shut down at midnight on October 1, 2025 when Congress failed to pass funding legislation for the 2026 fiscal year. The core issue? Healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that are set to expire at the end of December.
Democrats refused to pass any funding bill without guaranteeing an extension of these enhanced tax credits, which help over 20 million Americans afford health insurance. Republicans rejected this demand, insisting on a “clean” funding bill with no policy add-ons. For 40 days, the Senate held vote after vote, with neither side willing to budge after 14 failed attempts.
During this time, roughly 750,000 federal employees were furloughed while another 1.4 million worked without pay. Food stamp benefits for 42 million Americans were cut off. Airlines canceled thousands of flights due to unpaid air traffic controller shortages. In short, the shutdown was causing real pain across the country.
Then, on Sunday evening, something shifted. The Senate voted 60-40 to advance a funding package, which is exactly the threshold needed to overcome a filibuster.
Who Voted for the Deal: The Democrats Who Broke Ranks
Eight members of the Democratic caucus provided the crucial votes needed to advance the bill:
- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire)
- Sen. Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire)
- Sen. Angus King (Maine, Independent)
- Sen. Dick Durbin (Illinois)
- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada)
- Sen. Jacky Rosen (Nevada)
- Sen. John Fetterman (Pennsylvania)
- Sen. Tim Kaine (Virginia)
Three of these Senators (Shaheen, Hassan, and King) actually negotiated the deal with Republicans and the White House. All three are former governors who emphasized their experience running state governments during crises.
Only one Republican voted against the deal: Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who opposes it because he says it adds to the national debt.
What’s in the Deal: Key Details
The agreement has several major components:
Funding Through January 30: The deal includes a continuing resolution that funds the government at current spending levels until the end of January. This gives Congress more than two months to negotiate full-year funding bills.
Three Full-Year Spending Bills: The package includes complete, year-long funding for three government departments:
- Department of Agriculture (including full SNAP food stamp funding through September 2026)
- Department of Veterans Affairs and Military Construction
- Legislative Branch (Congress itself, including $203.5 million for security for members of Congress and $852 million for US Capitol Police)
Federal Worker Protections: The deal reverses all workforce reductions and layoffs that occurred during the shutdown. It also guarantees that all federal employees—both those furloughed and those required to work—will receive back pay. Additionally, it prevents any new layoffs through the end of the fiscal year in September 2026.
The Healthcare Compromise: This is where things get controversial. The deal does not extend the ACA subsidies that Democrats demanded. Instead, it includes a promise from Senate Majority Leader John Thune that the Senate will hold a vote on a Democratic-sponsored bill to extend the subsidies by mid-December.
That’s it. Just a promise of a vote, not a guarantee that it will pass.
What Democrats Got (And Didn’t Get)
Let’s be clear about what this means for Democrats:
What They Got:
- Government reopens, ending immediate suffering for federal workers and SNAP recipients
- Full-year SNAP funding secured through September 2026
- Protection for federal workers from Trump administration layoffs
- A guaranteed Senate vote on healthcare subsidies in December
What They Didn’t Get:
- Actual extension of ACA subsidies in the legislation itself
- Any promise from House Speaker Mike Johnson to hold a similar vote in the House
- Limitations on the Trump administration’s ability to withhold congressionally approved funds
The senators who voted for the deal defended it by saying the shutdown strategy wasn’t working. Senator Angus King told reporters that almost seven weeks of “fruitless attempts” to garner much-needed support for the extension of tax credits was not the way to go, while Senator Jeanne Shaheen bluntly pointed out that this was “the only deal on the table.”
What Happens Next: The Timeline
The bill is scheduled to head to the House of Representatives, and votes are expected to come in as early as November 12.
House Republicans are mostly expected to support the bill and GOP leadership is planning to pass it with Republican votes only, not counting on Democratic support given the backlash from House Democrats.
Once both chambers pass the bill, it goes to President Trump, who mentioned Sunday evening that “it looks like we’re getting close to the shutdown ending,” so expectations are for him to sign it without a hitch.
The Risks: What Could Still Derail This Deal
While the path forward seems clearer than it has in 40 days, several things could still go wrong:
Senate Procedural Delays: Any single senator can slow down the process with procedural objections. While Senate Majority Leader Thune hopes for final passage within “hours not days,” if senators object, it could drag out.
House Republican Defections: With most House Democrats expected to vote against the bill, Johnson can afford very few Republican defections. Some conservative Republicans have already expressed concerns and if more than a handful of Republicans join Democrats in opposition, the bill could fail.
White House Complications: While Trump indicated support for ending the shutdown, he has a tendency to insert himself into negotiations at the last minute. His refusal to commit on healthcare issues could still cause problems.
House Democratic Discharge Petition: House Democrats are considering using a discharge petition, which is a procedural move that requires 218 signatures, to force a vote on ACA subsidy extensions. If they can get some moderate Republicans on board (and some have supported extensions), this could complicate the legislative schedule and create new conflicts.
Flight Disruptions and Travel Delays: Ironically, the shutdown itself is making it harder to end the shutdown. With over 1,000 flights canceled daily due to air traffic control staffing shortages, getting all House members back to Washington for a vote could be logistically challenging. Johnson specifically warned members about travel delays when urging them to return “right now.”
The Bottom Line
After being in government shutdown limbo for 40 long days, Congress is finally on the verge of reopening the federal government. The deal is far from perfect and has split Democrats down the middle.
It funds the government through January and secures critical programs, but it doesn’t directly address the healthcare subsidy cliff that Democrats say will harm millions of Americans.
The compromise reflects a harsh political reality: with Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress and the White House, Democrats had limited leverage.
The eight Democrats who voted for the deal calculated that continuing the shutdown wouldn’t force Republicans to budge on healthcare, while causing immense suffering to federal workers and vulnerable Americans.
Whether this was the right call remains hotly debated. What’s certain is that the battle over ACA subsidies isn’t over, it’s just moving to a December vote with an uncertain outcome.
For now, if the Senate and House can finalize votes this week, nearly 900,000 furloughed federal workers will get back pay, 1.4 million essential workers will finally receive paychecks, and 42 million Americans will see their SNAP benefits restored.
What to Watch: Senate final passage (expected early this week), House vote (expected Wednesday), whether Speaker Johnson schedules any vote on ACA subsidies, and whether the December Senate vote on healthcare can attract enough Republican support to pass.
