In a 60–40 test vote, senators agreed to proceed with compromise legislation that would fund the government through late January and guarantee a separate mid-December vote on extending ACA tax credits set to expire on January 1. While the move brought Congress closer to reopening federal operations, final passage could still take several days as debate continues.

Moderate Democrats Break Six-Week Deadlock

The breakthrough came after a group of moderate Democrats and Independents—New Hampshire Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, and Independent Senator Angus King of Maine—brokered a deal with Republican leaders to advance three bipartisan spending bills.

In exchange, Senate leaders agreed to hold a future vote on health care subsidies, ending a six-week stalemate that had paralyzed Washington. The agreement also reverses layoffs of federal workers triggered by the shutdown, ensures back pay once the government reopens, and protects against further reductions in force through January.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) endorsed the compromise, calling it “a necessary step to get Americans back to work.” “The time to act is now,” Thune said, urging lawmakers to move quickly as the shutdown continued to disrupt flights and threaten food assistance for millions.

President Donald Trump, returning to Washington from a football game on Sunday evening, told reporters the deal “looks like we’re getting close to the shutdown ending,” though he stopped short of endorsing the measure outright.

Five Democrats Cross Party Lines

Only five Democrats ultimately voted with Republicans to advance the deal—precisely the number needed for the 60-vote threshold. In addition to Shaheen, King, and Hassan, Senators Tim Kaine of Virginia, Dick Durbin of Illinois, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, and Nevada’s Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen supported the motion.

Negotiators had expected broader Democratic support, with as many as a dozen senators participating in early talks. The vote was briefly delayed as Republican Senators Mike Lee, Rick Scott, and Ron Johnson—frequent critics of large spending bills—conferred privately with Thune before casting their votes in favor. Senator John Cornyn of Texas flew back from his home state to deliver the decisive 60th vote.

Schumer, Progressives Oppose Deal

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer voted against the motion, saying he could not “in good faith” support a deal that lacked a firm commitment to maintaining ACA subsidies. “We will not give up the fight,” Schumer said after a two-hour caucus meeting.

Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont called the move a “horrific mistake,” while Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) argued that recent election results showed voters “want Democrats to hold firm” on health care.

House progressives reacted sharply to the Senate compromise. Representative Greg Casar (D-Texas), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said the deal “betrays millions of Americans who depend on affordable health care,” calling it “capitulation, not compromise.” Representative Angie Craig (D-Minn.) dismissed the agreement as “no deal at all.”

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries blamed Republicans for the crisis, saying, “Donald Trump and the Republican Party own the toxic mess they have created.”

Funding Plan Extends Through January

The compromise legislation includes three bipartisan appropriations bills negotiated by the Senate Appropriations Committee, covering food assistance, veterans’ programs, and legislative operations. Funding for other parts of the government would be extended through late January, giving lawmakers additional time to complete full-year spending measures.

The package also reimburses states that used their own funds to sustain federal programs during the shutdown.

Health Care Vote Set for December

The deal guarantees a Senate vote in December on extending the ACA tax credits—benefits that subsidize insurance premiums for millions of Americans. While some Republicans have expressed openness to renewal, others, including Trump, have revived calls to overhaul or repeal the law.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has said he will not commit to scheduling a vote in his chamber, leaving the future of the subsidies uncertain.

Shutdown Fallout Deepens

As negotiations continued, the effects of the shutdown worsened nationwide. According to FlightAware, more than 2,000 U.S. flights were canceled and 7,000 delayed on Sunday, marking the first day since the shutdown began that cancellations surpassed 2,000.

Treasury Secretary Sean Duffy warned on CNN’s State of the Union that Thanksgiving travel could be “reduced to a trickle” if the government remains closed.

Food assistance programs were also under strain, with delays in distributing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits affecting tens of millions of Americans. In Washington, D.C., the Capital Area Food Bank reported preparing nearly 8 million more meals than planned—a 20% increase—to support unpaid federal workers.

A Fragile Path Forward

The tentative Senate breakthrough marks the first movement toward reopening the government since the shutdown began on October 1. But with major disagreements over health care, spending priorities, and political strategy still unresolved, lawmakers face a difficult road ahead.

Whether Congress can bridge those divides in time to restore stability—and prevent another shutdown early next year—remains uncertain.

Source: AP News – Senate takes first step toward ending the government shutdown

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WASHINGTON – After a marathon overnight session and weeks of political infighting, Senate Republicans narrowly pushed through former President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending bill on Tuesday — but not without drama.

The vote came down to a 50-50 deadlock, broken by Vice President JD Vance, handing Trump a crucial win on what he’s called his top legislative priority: permanent tax cuts and deep spending reductions.

A Nail-Biter to the End

Three Republicans — Thom Tillis (NC), Susan Collins (ME), and Rand Paul (KY) — joined Democrats in voting against the measure, raising sharp concerns over proposed Medicaid cuts and the ballooning national deficit. That left GOP leaders with no margin for error.

“In the end, we got the job done,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who worked through the night negotiating last-minute changes to keep the fragile coalition together.

The bill now heads back to the House for a vote on Wednesday. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has promised to deliver it to Trump’s desk before his self-imposed July 4th deadline.

What’s in the “One Big Beautiful Bill”

Officially titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — until Democrats stripped out the name — the 887-page legislation includes:

• $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, making Trump’s 2017 tax breaks permanent and adding new ones, like no taxes on tips
• $1.2 trillion in spending cuts, largely targeting Medicaid and food stamps, including new work requirements
• $350 billion for border and national security, funded partly through new immigration-related fees
• Rollbacks of green energy tax credits, which Democrats say will devastate wind and solar investments

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) warns the bill would increase the national deficit by nearly $3.3 trillion over the next decade and result in 11.8 million more Americans losing health coverage by 2034.

Tensions Run High in the Senate

The road to passage was rocky. Senators endured a vote-a-rama — a grueling process of nonstop amendment votes — as GOP leaders scrambled to save the bill from collapse.

At one point, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) was flanked by colleagues trying to win her support. She ultimately voted yes after securing temporary protections for her state from food stamp cuts, though her bid to boost Medicaid reimbursements failed.

Collins, who fought to include $50 billion for rural hospitals, saw the funding inserted at the last minute — but still voted no.

“My difficulties with the bill go far beyond that,” she said.

Even Trump, speaking to reporters on his way to Florida, seemed unsure. “I don’t want to go too crazy with cuts,” he said. “I don’t like cuts.”

Democrats Dig In

Senate Democrats fought the bill tooth and nail, even forcing a full reading of the legislation over the weekend in an attempt to delay the vote.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) blasted the bill as “wildly unpopular,” calling Republicans “in shambles.” Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) criticized the GOP’s budget math, accusing them of using “magic math” to disguise the real cost of the tax cuts.

“The numbers just don’t add up,” she said. “Americans know it. They feel it every day when they try to balance their own household budgets.”

Republicans Divided Over Cuts and Debt

Sen. Rand Paul opposed the bill over its impact on the deficit, saying, “The big not-so-beautiful bill has passed.” Sen. Thom Tillis warned that millions would lose health care under the Medicaid changes and shocked colleagues by announcing he won’t seek reelection.

Even billionaire Elon Musk weighed in, saying any lawmaker who supported the package should “hang their head in shame” and vowed to campaign against them.

Despite the infighting, the GOP rallied just enough support to pass the bill, hoping it marks a defining moment of their majority in Congress.

Next Stop: The House. All eyes now turn to Wednesday’s vote, where any changes made by the Senate could complicate the path forward. But for now, Trump’s ambitious agenda lives on — just barely.

Source: AP News – Senate passes Trump’s big tax and spending cuts bill as Vance breaks a 50-50 tie

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