The historic government shutdown, the longest in modern U.S. history, was ended in a bipartisan vote in the Senate as eight Democrats joined Republicans to pass a continuing resolution. The resolution, which passed with a narrow 60-40 vote, allows the government to operate through January 30 and funds the legislative branch and the Department of Agriculture through September 30, 2026. The vote marked a significant shift in the Senate’s approach, as several Democrats who had previously opposed compromise aligned with Republicans to end the crisis.
Key Democratic defectors included Sens. John Fetterman, Dick Durbin, and Catherine Cortez Masto, all of whom voiced concerns over the impact of the shutdown on federal workers, military personnel, and SNAP beneficiaries. Fetterman, who had consistently sided with Democratic leadership, admitted the shutdown was a failure, emphasizing the need to ensure government operations resume to support essential services.
Durbin, the Senate whip, highlighted the concessions Republicans made, particularly the reversal of Trump’s mass firings during the shutdown. He called for Senate Majority Leader John Thune to fulfill his promise to schedule a vote on extended Affordable Care Act tax credits in December. Cortez Masto also expressed frustration with the shutdown, arguing that it had caused unnecessary pain for working families and that Republicans had refused to engage in meaningful healthcare negotiations.
Other senators, including Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Tim Kaine of Virginia, emphasized the need for bipartisan action to address healthcare costs, which had surged during the shutdown. Kaine, who had been a strong advocate for protecting federal workers, pushed for language in the final bill that prevents further cuts to federal employment through January 30.
Meanwhile, Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, acknowledged the shutdown had failed to achieve its intended goals. He described the shutdown as an unnecessary burden on the American people and stressed that the government must now focus on finding long-term solutions to keep healthcare costs from rising further. With the government back in operation, the focus now shifts to negotiating a full, bipartisan budget for 2026, a process that will likely involve intense debate over funding levels and legislative priorities.