Senate Approves Spending Bill to End Historic Government Shutdown

On November 10, 2025, the U.S. Senate approved a bipartisan spending package with a 60-40 vote, aiming to conclude the longest government shutdown in the nation's history, which had persisted for over six weeks. The bill proposes funding most federal agencies at current levels through January 30, 2026, and includes full-year appropriations for the Agriculture Department, the Veterans Affairs Department, military construction projects, and congressional operations. Notably, it restores funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through September 2026. The legislation now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

The government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, marking the longest in U.S. history. Approximately 1.25 million federal employees went without pay, accumulating $16 billion in missed wages, with about 650,000 furloughed, temporarily raising the unemployment rate. The Congressional Budget Office estimated a 1.5 percentage point drop in GDP growth for Q4 and a permanent loss of about $11 billion in economic activity.

The Senate's 60-40 vote saw seven Democrats and one Independent joining Republicans to pass the bill. Democratic senators who voted in favor included Dick Durbin (Illinois), Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire), Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire), Tim Kaine (Virginia), John Fetterman (Pennsylvania), Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada), and Jacky Rosen (Nevada). Independent Senator Angus King (Maine) also supported the measure. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer opposed the proposal, stating he could not "in good faith" support it.

The spending package funds most federal agencies at current levels through January 30, 2026. It provides full-year appropriations for the Agriculture Department, the Veterans Affairs Department, military construction projects, and congressional operations. Importantly, it restores funding for SNAP through September 2026. However, the package does not extend Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of the year, potentially increasing healthcare costs for millions of Americans.

The legislation now moves to the House of Representatives, where Speaker Mike Johnson aims to pass it quickly for President Trump's signature. President Trump has praised the deal. Despite the bill providing SNAP food aid through September 2026, it lacks restrictions on Trump's unilateral spending cuts and efforts to reduce the federal workforce, actions that have drawn criticism from Democrats.

Prior to this shutdown, the longest in U.S. history lasted 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019 during President Donald Trump's first term, primarily due to disputes over border wall funding. Other significant shutdowns include a 21-day shutdown in 1995–1996 during President Bill Clinton's tenure and a 16-day shutdown in 2013 during President Barack Obama's administration.

The prolonged shutdown disrupted food benefits, halted pay for hundreds of thousands of federal workers, and caused air traffic delays. Flights were disrupted with over 7,500 cancellations, affecting the travel and hospitality industries. Key government services like SNAP food aid payments were delayed for millions, and federal contracts totaling $800 million daily stalled, impacting contractors not guaranteed back pay. Consumer sentiment plummeted to near-record lows, further restricting spending.

The Senate's passage of the spending package represents a significant step toward ending the historic government shutdown. However, the bill's provisions, particularly the omission of extended healthcare subsidies and the lack of restrictions on executive spending cuts, highlight ongoing political tensions and the challenges of bipartisan compromise. As the legislation moves to the House, its final approval and implementation will be closely watched for their broader implications on governance and public services.