US Senate approves deal to reopen government after historic 41-day shutdown amid new clash over health care

The United States Senate has passed a crucial bill to end the country’s longest-ever government shutdown, which lasted for 41 days. The move comes after weeks of political gridlock and growing pressure from federal workers who went unpaid during the shutdown. The Senate approved the measure 60–40 on Monday, with five moderate Democrats joining Republicans to vote in favour of reopening the government. The House of Representatives, currently on recess, is expected to approve the bill later this week, officially bringing an end to the crisis.

President Donald Trump, who had faced strong criticism over the shutdown, signalled his support for the bill and said, “We’re going to be opening up our country very quickly.” The agreement provides temporary funding to keep government operations running through late January and ensures back pay for all affected federal employees.

A deal to reopen the government

The deal was reached after several weeks of intense negotiations led by three senators with a reputation for bipartisanship—Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, both Democrats from New Hampshire, and Independent Senator Angus King from Maine. All three are former governors and have previously worked on bipartisan solutions during their state leadership tenures.

Under the agreement, the Senate will advance three key bipartisan spending bills while extending funding for the remaining government operations until the end of January. In exchange, Republicans agreed to schedule a separate vote by mid-December on whether to extend federal health care tax credits that are due to expire on January 1.

The bill also cancels the large-scale dismissals of federal workers ordered by the Trump administration earlier in the shutdown and guarantees that all affected employees will receive their pending salaries once the legislation becomes law.

Several other Democrats—Senators Tim Kaine, Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, and Jacky Rosen—also voted in favour of the bill, crossing party lines to help end the impasse. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, praised the outcome and said, “This marks the beginning of the end of six excruciating weeks that tested our nation’s resilience.”

The shutdown, which started on October 1, had closed several federal departments and disrupted services across the country, including national parks, research agencies, and airports. Thousands of government employees were either furloughed or forced to work without pay, leading to widespread frustration and protests. The economic impact was also significant, with millions of dollars lost each day in halted government operations and reduced consumer spending.

The final compromise came only after public anger grew and bipartisan pressure mounted on lawmakers to resolve the issue. Analysts say the breakthrough shows that moderate members of both parties still play a key role in overcoming political deadlock in Washington.

Division among Democrats and health care fight ahead

Despite the relief that the deal brings, the vote has deepened internal divisions within the Democratic Party. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer opposed the bill, arguing that it did not include a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies for middle- and low-income families. “I cannot in good faith support a bill that leaves millions uncertain about their health care future,” Schumer said.

Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut echoed this sentiment, saying Democrats “could have won more” if they had continued to resist. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders was even more critical, calling the compromise “a horrific mistake” that, in his view, weakened the party’s stance on protecting social programs.

On the other hand, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries defended Schumer’s leadership and insisted that Democrats were still “on the right side of this fight,” stressing that the focus must now shift to securing a strong outcome in the December health care vote.

The next major political battle will revolve around the extension of the federal health care tax credits, which were introduced under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to help Americans afford health insurance. These credits are set to expire at the start of the new year unless Congress acts.

ALSO READ: The fall of the Berlin Wall: A turning point that reshaped global politics

ALSO READ: Tech glitch cripples Delhi airport operations, hundreds of flights face major delays

Some moderate Republicans, such as Senator Susan Collins of Maine, have indicated that they are open to extending the credits but with new income-based limits to reduce costs. However, many conservatives want to use the opportunity to push for broader reforms or even dismantle parts of the ACA altogether.

If lawmakers fail to reach a new agreement by January, the government could once again face the risk of a shutdown. For now, however, federal agencies are preparing to resume normal operations. Workers who had been without pay for more than a month are expected to return to their offices later this week once the House passes the funding bill.

Economists have warned that the 41-day shutdown has already caused lasting economic damage. It disrupted supply chains, delayed federal contracts, and weakened consumer confidence. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that the shutdown may have cost the U.S. economy billions in lost productivity.

In Washington, the end of the shutdown is being viewed as a temporary relief rather than a long-term solution. The ongoing fight over health care funding could again divide Congress in the coming weeks. President Trump has described the health care system as “broken” and vowed to support reforms, though he has not specified what kind of compromise he would accept in December.

For federal workers and citizens dependent on government services, the reopening offers a much-needed break from weeks of uncertainty. Still, the underlying political disputes—particularly over health care and spending priorities—remain unresolved.

As agencies reopen, lawmakers will face renewed pressure to prevent another shutdown. The coming weeks will determine whether Congress can build on this temporary truce or if another standoff awaits early next year.