The longest government shutdown in US history is finally on the verge of ending after the Senate voted to reopen the government until January 2026. Seven Democrats and one Independent joined 52 Republicans to pass the temporary funding bill, known as a continuing resolution.
Although Democrats did not secure the extension of Obamacare subsidies they had sought, the Trump administration promised a future vote on that issue. The White House has also pledged to reverse the firings of federal employees and provide back pay for the hundreds of thousands affected during the shutdown that began on October 1.
The next steps in the Senate
The Senate must now vote on the final version of the bill, which could take several days due to procedural rules. Senators must complete 30 hours of post-cloture debate time, which can only be waived with unanimous consent from all 100 senators.
This could slow things down. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, for instance, wants an amendment related to hemp production in his state. “Just to be clear: I am not delaying this bill,” Paul wrote on social media. “The timing is already fixed under Senate procedure. But there is extraneous language in this package that has nothing to do with reopening the government and would harm Kentucky’s hemp farmers and small businesses. Standing up for Kentucky jobs is part of my job.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said it “remains to be seen” when the vote will take place, adding that he hoped it would pass early in the week.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said, “They’ll need unanimous consent from all senators to fast-track their final vote. As you know, there are some procedural hurdles that one or more could throw in the way, but we certainly hope that they won’t do that, because so many people across this country are desperate for the government to reopen.”
What happens in the House
Once the Senate clears the continuing resolution, it moves to the House of Representatives, which has been adjourned since the shutdown began. Speaker Johnson said the House will reconvene at noon on Wednesday and vote as soon as possible.
“We’ll give a 36-hour formal and official notice so that we can vote as soon as possible to pass the amended CR bill and get it to the President’s desk,” Johnson said.
Reopening the government will not be easy in the House, where Republicans hold a razor-thin majority. Lawmakers like Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky have been vocal opponents of a short-term reopening. Massie, who has demanded the release of the “Epstein Files,” remains a fierce critic of the White House.
President Donald Trump will likely need to persuade hardline Republicans and win over a few Independent-leaning Democrats to ensure passage. Party strategists believe Republicans will court members like Jared Golden of Maine and Henry Cuellar of Texas.
“It’s past time to put country over party and get our government working again for the American people,” Cuellar wrote on social media.
While House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has promised to oppose the bill, sources told CNN that Republicans are optimistic. A Democratic source also acknowledged that some members may vote in favor of the funding package, though the numbers are unclear.
Trump and the path to reopening
If both chambers pass the continuing resolution, it will head to President Trump’s desk for approval. He has signaled readiness to sign it immediately. “We have support from enough Democrats, and we’re going to be opening up our country,” Trump said. “I’ll abide by the deal. The deal is very good.”
The process, however, could stretch to the end of the week before federal agencies begin to reopen. Experts caution that restarting the government is a gradual process that could take until next week to be fully operational.
Despite the delays, Speaker Johnson expressed optimism. “It appears to us this morning that our long national nightmare is finally coming to an end,” he told reporters. “We look forward to the government reopening this week so Congress can get back to our regular legislative session. Shutting down the government never produces anything. It never has.”
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