Everything’s set — now it all comes down to the vote. The Senate finally blinked Sunday night — taking the first real step to end America’s longest-ever government shutdown with a bipartisan deal to keep Washington running through Jan. 30, 2026.
Source: New york Post
The Senate could greenlight the plan as early as Monday — setting up a near-certain House vote to send it to President Trump’s desk by week’s end.
Seven Democrats — including party heavyweight Dick Durbin — broke ranks Sunday night, siding with 52 Republicans and independent Angus King to shatter a filibuster blocking a massive spending deal that funds food aid, veterans care, and Congress itself through 2026.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) defied his GOP colleagues — the sole Republican to vote no.
Power players filled the stands in Landover, Md., on Nov. 9 — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Commanders owner Josh Harris, President Trump, and Speaker Mike Johnson watched the Lions face off against the Commanders at Northwest Stadium. Getty Images
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) broke with GOP negotiators Sunday, leading Democrats in rejecting a bill that tees up a vote on Obamacare subsidies set to run out this year — without the extension his party has been demanding for weeks.
“Democrats have been fighting for months to address America’s healthcare crisis,” Schumer said on X while the vote was in progress. “For the millions who will lose coverage[.] For people with cancer who won’t get the care they need[.] For working families who can’t afford to pay $25K more a year for healthcare[.] We will keep fighting.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) didn’t mince words, posting on X: “Tonight was a very bad night.”
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) walked out of a Democratic caucus meeting on Capitol Hill Wednesday, leaving the fate of the party’s strategy hanging in Washington, D.C. Getty Images
House Democrats, headed by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, erupted in outrage over the shutdown-ending deal that has thrown thousands of flights into chaos and left millions without critical SNAP benefits.
“It now appears that Senate Republicans will send the House of Representatives a spending bill that fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits,” fumed Jeffries.
“We will fight the GOP bill in the House of Representatives, where [Speaker] Mike Johnson will be compelled to end the seven-week Republican taxpayer-funded vacation.”
Johnson (R-La.) has kept the House on hold since Sept. 19, after passing a funding bill through Nov. 21 — while Senate Democrats voted 14 times to block it before Sunday’s breakthrough.
The Senate advanced a bipartisan deal late Sunday, bringing the government shutdown to its long-awaited end. Bonnie Cash/UPI/Shutterstock
"If this is the so-called ‘deal,’ then I will be a no," South Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) shot back Sunday, responding to the latest whispers about the proposal. “That’s not a deal. It’s an unconditional surrender that abandons the 24 million Americans whose health care premiums are about to double.”
“Accepting nothing but a pinky promise from Republicans isn’t a compromise — it’s capitulation,” Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said in a post on X. “Millions of families would pay the price.”
“If people believe this is a ‘deal,’ I have a bridge to sell you,” added Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.). “I’m not going to put 24 million Americans at risk of losing their health care. I’m a no.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faced the press Wednesday after a high-profile meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the U.S. Capitol. REUTERS
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries faced the press Wednesday on day 37 of the federal shutdown, highlighting the mounting chaos in Washington, D.C. AFP via Getty Images
In a major move, Republicans not only agreed to a vote on extending Obamacare subsidies but also pledged to bring back every federal worker laid off during the shutdown — with back pay.
Three weeks ago, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) offered Democrats a chance to vote on extending enhanced Obamacare tax credits — but his rivals flatly rejected it.
Thune offers no guarantee the Senate will pass extended subsidies, and Johnson hasn’t committed to even considering the measure in the House.
Sen. Angus King took the podium with Senate Democrats on Nov. 9 in Washington, D.C., highlighting their vote to restore government funding. Nathan Posner/Shutterstock
House Speaker Mike Johnson took the podium with House Republican leaders on Nov. 6 at the U.S. Capitol, unveiling plans to reopen the government. Getty Images
Congress faces the annual task of funding the government, with the fiscal year kicking off on October 1.
Congress usually passes 12 appropriations bills, but when talks stall, it resorts to stopgap continuing resolutions to keep the government limping along.
If approved, the deal gives Congress a deadline of Jan. 30 to hammer out the remaining nine spending bills before fiscal year 2026 ends.
