On Sunday night, the U.S. Senate took a significant step toward ending the ongoing government shutdown by voting 60 to 40 to advance a House-passed funding measure. This marked a crucial breakthrough in a stalemate that had persisted for over 40 days, with the government partially shuttered and many federal employees furloughed or working without pay. Eight Senate Democrats joined nearly all Republicans—except Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky—in supporting the motion to proceed, signaling bipartisan willingness to move forward on reopening the government.
The legislation under consideration is a continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government through January 30, 2026, alongside three bipartisan, full-year appropriations bills. These funding bills aim to restore government operations and prevent further disruption. However, the path to full passage involves several procedural hurdles in the Senate, including replacing the current text with the new CR and the appropriations package. While this process could take days, it could also be expedited if senators agree to move quickly. Following Senate approval, the House of Representatives must also pass the legislation before it reaches President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed optimism that the president would sign the funding package if it passes both chambers. When asked if President Trump would endorse the deal, Thune said, “I would expect he would, yeah,” though he noted he had not spoken with the president since the vote. Thune also addressed provisions in the bill related to reductions in force (RIF), which reverse layoffs the administration had tried to implement during the shutdown and prohibit further federal workforce reductions through January. Thune indicated that the White House had been involved in discussions about these RIF provisions, suggesting a degree of alignment with the administration.
Thune emphasized that reopening the government is the immediate priority, stating that Republicans are eager to “get the government open and enable those conversations to commence” on other pressing issues, chiefly health care reform. He sees a “path forward” on negotiating solutions to high health care costs once the shutdown ends, acknowledging that the current system—primarily Obamacare—is not working effectively for many Americans. “If there is a willingness on the part of Democrats to work with Republicans to deal with the unaffordability of Obamacare in its current form, then there might be an opportunity to do something bipartisan,” Thune said.
While Thune has committed to holding a Senate vote on health insurance tax credits, he has not recently discussed with House Speaker Mike Johnson the possibility of a corresponding vote in the House. Johnson, meanwhile, has urged House members—both Republicans and Democrats—to return to Washington promptly in anticipation of votes on the final funding deal. He acknowledged that the government shutdown has caused serious disruptions and expressed hope that reopening the government would allow Congress to resume its regular legislative work. Johnson warned of “long days and long nights” ahead as lawmakers seek to make up for lost time.
Flight disruptions remain a tangible consequence of the shutdown, particularly due to staffing shortages among air traffic controllers. Despite the Senate’s progress on funding, more than 1,500 flights were canceled and over 1,400 delayed as of early Monday, according to FlightAware. President Trump weighed in publicly via his social media platform, Truth Social, demanding that all air traffic controllers return to work immediately. He stated that those who continued to report to duty despite the shutdown would receive a bonus of $10,000 for their “distinguished service,” while those who took time off—even knowing they would eventually be paid—would face penalties, including negative marks on their records. Trump also suggested that any controllers wishing to leave service should do so without severance or payment.
At a daily press conference on the Capitol steps, Speaker Johnson welcomed the Senate’s action and described the end of the funding lapse as “in sight.” He criticized Democrats for holding the government “hostage to further anyone’s political agenda” and praised those senators who voted to advance the measure. Johnson framed the vote as a victory for millions of hardworking Americans who have suffered due to the shutdown and expressed hope for a swift resolution.
Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, one of the eight Democrats who voted to advance the bill, explained her rationale on “CBS Mornings.” She noted that the government shutdown had caused needless suffering, particularly for federal employees missing paychecks and SNAP recipients facing uncertainty over their benefits. Shaheen also criticized President Trump and Republican lawmakers for refusing to fund health care measures aimed at keeping costs