The shutdown could end this week: Republicans and Democrats have reached an agreement.
On November 9, the US Senate took steps to reopen the federal government and stop the coronavirus pandemic.The shutdown, which has already dragged on for 40 days, has left thousands of federal employees jobless, delayed food aid payments, and disrupted air travel, writes Reuters.
In a procedural vote, senators approved a bill previously passed by the House of Representatives. It extends government funding until January 30 and includes a package of three full-year budget bills.
If the Senate passes the amended bill, it still must be approved by the House of Representatives and sent to President Donald Trump for signature, a process that could take several days.
On the subject: The 2025 shutdown broke all records: it became the longest in US history.
Under an agreement reached with a small group of Democrats who rejected their party's leadership, Republicans are prepared to hold a vote in December on extending subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. These subsidies, which help low-income Americans afford private health insurance and expire at the end of the year, were Democrats' main demand during the budget dispute.
The vote to advance the bill passed with the minimum required result of 60 votes to 40, which allowed the Senate to overcome a possible filibuster.
"It looks like we're very close to ending the shutdown," Trump told reporters at the White House before the vote.
The bill prohibits federal agencies from laying off employees until January 30, a victory for federal labor unions and their supporters. It will temporarily halt Trump's campaign to downsize the federal government.
According to federal records, at the beginning of Trump's second term, there were approximately 2,2 million civil servants in the government. At least 300 are expected to be laid off by the end of the year due to the layoff program.
In addition, the bill provides for the payment of back wages to all federal employees, including military personnel, border patrol agents, and air traffic controllers.
When the Senate convenes on November 10, Republican leaders will circumvent normal procedural rules and attempt to reach a bipartisan agreement to expedite the signing of the legislation. Otherwise, the process could take almost all of next week, extending the shutdown until next weekend.
"We had a good vote this evening," Senate Majority Leader John Thune said after the session on November 9. "Hopefully we can get another vote tomorrow. Of course, that will require cooperation and agreement."
According to a source with knowledge of the negotiations, the agreement was reached on November 9 with the participation of Democratic Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, as well as independent Senator Angus King of Maine.
"I made it clear over a month ago that my priorities are reopening the government and extending the ACA tax cuts. This is our best path to achieving both goals," Shaheen wrote in X.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer voted against the measure. Many Democrats on Capitol Hill expressed dissatisfaction with the agreement.
"Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced," Congressman Ro Khanna commented in X. "If he can't lead the fight to prevent Americans from seeing their insurance premiums rise, what is he even fighting for?"
November 9 marked the 40th day of the shutdown, which has grounded federal employees, disrupted food assistance programs, closed parks, and disrupted air travel. A shortage of air traffic controllers threatens to disrupt air travel through the Thanksgiving holiday in late November.
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said the growing impact of the shutdown pushed the Senate toward a deal.
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett warned that if the government doesn't reopen quickly, economic data could turn negative in the fourth quarter, especially if air travel doesn't recover by Thanksgiving.
Meanwhile, Trump is once again pushing the idea of replacing ACA insurance marketplace subsidies with direct payments to individuals. These subsidies, which have increased the number of people insured under the ACA to 24 million by 2021, are at the center of the current conflict. Republicans insist they are ready to discuss the issue only after government funding is restored.
On Sunday, November 9, Trump wrote in Truth Social that the subsidies were "a windfall for insurance companies and a disaster for the American people." He demanded that these funds be sent directly to individuals so they could buy their own insurance.
"I am prepared to work with both parties to resolve this issue once the government is open," he said.
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Experts estimate that Americans choosing ACA insurance plans for 2026 will face a more than doubling of their monthly premiums, as subsidies implemented during the pandemic expire at the end of the year. However, the ACA enrollment period runs until January 15, giving Congress time to pass legislation extending these tax breaks.
Meanwhile, millions of Americans receiving food aid breathed a sigh of relief yesterday (Nov. 9) when lawmakers reached a tentative agreement that will keep their benefits going until next year.
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