Senate Democrats Race to Avert Government Shutdown—How Their New Plan Could Impact You

WASHINGTON — The 41-day government shutdown appears headed for an end after the Senate passed a bipartisan funding package Monday night, 60-40, with eight members of the Democratic caucus breaking ranks to vote with almost all Republicans. The bill now moves to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson has ordered lawmakers to return for a vote as early as Wednesday afternoon. Centrist Democrats Tip the Scales Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Jeanne Shaheen, Catherine Cortez Masto, John Fetterman, Jacky Rosen and independent Angus King provided the decisive margin after saying the shutdown’s toll on federal workers and essential programs had become untenable. In exchange, GOP leaders pledged a standalone vote by mid-December on extending enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits, Democrats’ chief demand throughout the standoff. Progressive Backlash The compromise has ignited a fierce intra-party fight. Sen. Bernie Sanders called the agreement a “disaster,” arguing Democrats surrendered leverage without securing concrete health-care protections. California Gov. Gavin Newsom labeled the move “pathetic,” while Rep. Ro Khanna urged Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to step aside for “not meeting the moment”. What’s in the Senate Package • Continues government funding through January 30, 2026. • Includes three full-year appropriations bills for Agriculture/FDA, Military Construction–VA, and the Legislative Branch. • Reverses Trump-era layoffs and bars further job cuts during the stopgap period. • Guarantees a floor vote on ACA subsidies but does not enact them outright. House Dynamics House Republicans, who have not voted since September 19, must now decide whether to embrace the Senate bill or demand changes that could reignite a shutdown. Johnson signaled support, saying the nation’s “long national nightmare is finally coming to an end,” yet hard-line conservatives remain wary of any measure backed by Senate Democrats. With flight cancellations and SNAP benefit delays mounting, moderate House members from both parties are under pressure to back the compromise quickly. Trump Signals Support President Donald Trump told reporters he is inclined to sign the package if it reaches his desk, noting that “we’re going to be opening up our country very quickly”. White House aides were directly involved in drafting language to reverse layoffs, a concession aimed at winning Kaine’s vote and boosting bipartisan appeal. Political Stakes With midterm primaries looming, the episode has exposed a widening gulf between progressive and centrist Senate Democrats. Strategists warn that defectors may face primary challenges, while leadership hopes a quick resolution will shift attention back to health-care affordability—an issue polling shows resonates across swing states. What Happens Next If the House approves the Senate bill Wednesday, federal agencies could reopen within 24 hours, furloughed employees would receive back pay, and negotiations over long-term health-care subsidies would begin immediately. Should the bill falter, however, partisan recriminations are likely to intensify—and another shutdown fight could return in January when funding again expires. Bottom Line The Senate Democrats’ split decision has cracked open a path to restart the government yet left the party’s unity in question. All eyes now turn to the House, where the fate of the shutdown—and the political fortunes of the eight centrist senators—will be decided.