Senate Moves Toward Ending U.S. Government Shutdown Amid Health Care Rift

The U.S. Senate took a key procedural step on Sunday toward ending the ongoing government shutdown, approving a bipartisan motion to advance a temporary funding package despite deep Democratic divisions over the future of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies.

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.