Senate Advances Spending Package, Moves Toward Ending Record Shutdown

Photo by Elisa/Adobe Stock

The U.S. Senate voted 60–40 to advance a bipartisan funding measure that could end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, clearing a key procedural hurdle toward reopening federal agencies and restoring pay for hundreds of thousands of workers.

The vote allows debate to proceed on a modified continuing resolution that would extend current funding levels through January 2026, according to the office of Sen. Kevin Kramer, R-N.D. The legislation includes provisions to reverse any layoffs of federal employees that occurred during the shutdown, guarantee back pay for furloughed workers and prevent further reductions in force through the end of the fiscal year, NPR reported.

This outcome follows negotiations that brought five additional Democratic votes needed to invoke cloture.

What Does the Senate Funding Deal Include?

The legislation combines a short-term continuing resolution with three appropriations bills the Senate passed recently, covering “Agriculture-FDA, the Legislative Branch, and Military Construction-VA,” Cramer’s office said. 

The senator attributed the breakthrough to direct engagement from President Donald Trump, who has been pushing lawmakers to reach a deal.

“After a record-breaking shutdown, we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Cramer. “Advancing this appropriations package gets us one step closer to paying the troops, the border patrol agents and all the other federal workers who were inexcusably used as leverage by Democrats.”

According to NPR, the bill also establishes a Senate vote on healthcare legislation by mid-December as part of an informal agreement between Republican and Democratic negotiators. That separate vote is expected to focus on extending Affordable Care Act premium tax credits.

“I have long said that to earn my vote, we need to be on a path toward fixing Republicans’ health care mess and to protect the federal workforce,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., who supported the deal. “This deal guarantees a vote to extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, which Republicans weren’t willing to do.”

What Happens Next?

The Senate will hold a final vote on the package later this week before sending it to the House, which is expected to approve the legislation. After which, the legislation will move to the White House for President Trump’s signature.

If enacted, the measure would reopen the government and end a shutdown that has extended for weeks, disrupting federal operations, delaying paychecks and halting key services across multiple agencies.

The government shutdown began amid disagreements over spending levels and healthcare provisions tied to Affordable Care Act subsidies. Some Democrats argued that maintaining the shutdown gave them leverage in negotiations, while moderate Democrats said ending it was necessary to resume normal operations and secure concessions.