A bipartisan group of Senate Democrats and Republicans late Sunday cleared the first procedural hurdle to advance a bill intended to reopen the government after the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The agreement would fund federal operations through Jan. 30 and provide full-year funding for three appropriations bills, including full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding through Sept. 30, 2026.
The Senate invoked cloture on the measure in a 60-40 vote, with seven Democrats and one independent joining most Republicans to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to end debate. With cloture achieved, subsequent Senate votes will require only a simple majority. The legislation still must pass the House to actually end the shutdown, restore pay for air traffic controllers and other federal workers, and restart federal food benefits.
The continuing resolution also would reverse reductions in force that occurred during the shutdown, prohibit further layoffs through the end of the fiscal year, and provide backpay for all federal employees for the period the government was closed.
Negotiations had been contentious for weeks, as many Democrats pushed to preserve Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and resisted a string of short-term stopgap bills. Some Democrats accepted the narrower framework in this deal; Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who voted to advance the measure, said it ‘‘guarantees a vote to extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits,’’ something he said Republicans would not do otherwise. Supporters expect the package to include an informal commitment to hold a Senate vote on health care — on a Democratic bill of their choosing — by the second week of December, though that pledge is not written into the text.
The compromise sharpened divisions within the Democratic caucus. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer opposed the agreement, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) denounced it as a mistake and urged continued efforts to secure health care protections. Several House Democrats vowed to reject the measure if it reaches the floor; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Democrats ‘‘will not support’’ spending legislation that fails to extend ACA tax credits and promised to fight it in the House. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Tex.) called the deal a ‘‘betrayal’’ for not addressing health care costs.
Moderate Democrats who backed the move argued it was the best available option to stop the immediate harms of the shutdown, noting public pressure on lawmakers to reopen government or face political consequences. The House has not held a floor vote since Sept. 19 and previously passed a funding measure without Democratic support.