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Senate Approves Short-Term Funding Bill, Moving Toward End of 40-Day Shutdown

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Monday, November 10th 2025 at 23:58 GMT by Fox 11 News

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Senate’s First Step Toward Ending the 40‑Day Shutdown, House to Re‑open in 36 Hours

After 40 days of federal funding paralysis, the Senate has moved to close the long‑standing government shutdown that began on 28 March. The passage of a short‑term funding bill, approved by a narrow margin, signals the start of a new, more bipartisan phase that could see the entire federal workforce return to their desks by early April. The bill, now awaiting House approval, keeps the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies intact, addresses critical funding for national defense, and contains modest provisions for the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Senate Vote: A Narrow, But Historic, Decision

On Friday, the U.S. Senate voted 53‑42 to approve a short‑term “continuing resolution” (CR) that will fund the federal government through 10 April. The resolution keeps the existing budget levels for most agencies, but it does not include new discretionary spending or significant reforms that were at the center of the earlier standoff.

Key points of the bill:

• Deficit‑Free Funding: The resolution provides the same level of funding as the previous fiscal year, avoiding the increase in the national debt that many Republicans feared.
• Defense and National Security: The bill guarantees funding for the Department of Defense and for the Department of Homeland Security, ensuring that active‑duty troops and homeland security personnel receive pay and benefits.
• Health Care: The Senate’s version of the CR retains ACA subsidies for people whose incomes fall within the 100‑150 % federal poverty level range. This was a significant concession to Democrats, who have repeatedly warned that a pay‑or‑no‑funding approach would devastate ACA recipients.
• Federal Employees: The resolution covers the salaries of roughly 2.6 million federal workers, restoring their pay and preventing the potential layoffs that had accumulated over the shutdown.

The vote was split along partisan lines: 26 Democrats and 27 Republicans (including one independent) voted for the bill, while 16 Republicans and 26 Democrats voted against it. The key swing vote came from Senator Susan Collins (R‑ME), who announced her support after a phone call with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The House’s Role: Re‑opening and a Potential Consensus

While the Senate has approved a CR, the House of Representatives must also adopt a spending bill to bring the entire federal government out of shutdown. According to the article, the House is expected to reconvene within 36 hours, a timeline that reflects the urgency felt by both parties.

What to Watch

1. House Budget Resolution: The House’s bill will likely mirror the Senate’s CR but may contain additional provisions that reflect the Democratic majority in the chamber. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has urged his GOP colleagues to keep the bill short and avoid large new spending to maintain bipartisan support.
2. ACA Subsidies: Democrats, who have spent months campaigning against a “pay‑or‑no‑funding” approach that would cut ACA subsidies, have urged the House to include the ACA provisions present in the Senate bill. The outcome will be a litmus test for the future of the ACA’s subsidies.
3. Defense Spending: The House has traditionally pushed for higher defense appropriations. However, the urgency of ending the shutdown has forced GOP leaders to temper that push, with McCarthy pledging to keep the defense portion “high but not exorbitant.”
4. Federal Workers: The House is expected to adopt a resolution that will ensure federal workers receive their back‑pay, as agreed in the Senate. This move is crucial for maintaining morale and preventing further disruptions in federal services.

The Bigger Picture: The 40‑Day Shutdown and Its Consequences

The shutdown began on 28 March, when the House and Senate failed to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government for the remainder of the fiscal year. As a result, hundreds of thousands of federal workers were furloughed or paid on a “pay‑or‑no‑funding” basis, while vital services—such as border security, national parks, and federal agencies that process visas and passports—were suspended.

The article cites a 2024 Federal Reserve estimate that the shutdown cost the U.S. economy roughly $3.4 billion in lost productivity and potential consumer spending. Federal employees who have not yet been paid were faced with financial uncertainty, with the risk of unpaid bills and mortgage delays.

The shutdown also had political ramifications. Republicans criticized the Democratic majority for refusing to negotiate, while Democrats accused Republicans of stalling for political gain. The ongoing debate about the ACA subsidies is a major flashpoint. Republicans argue that subsidies should be withheld to create leverage, whereas Democrats view subsidies as a non‑negotiable benefit for millions of Americans.

What the Biden and Trump Administrations Might Do

The article mentions the role of the Trump administration’s legacy policies, particularly in regards to the ACA. The administration had previously tried to weaken ACA subsidies through executive orders and proposed changes to the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act. The Senate’s decision to preserve ACA subsidies marks a clear shift away from that trajectory.

In the context of the upcoming House vote, the Biden administration is expected to lobby heavily for a bill that preserves the ACA, defends federal employees’ rights, and ensures that the Department of Defense is fully funded. The administration also plans to issue a statement encouraging bipartisan cooperation to prevent the continuation of the shutdown.

On the Republican side, the Trump administration’s legacy will continue to influence GOP lawmakers. Many GOP members view the shutdown as a strategy to push through more restrictive health‑care reforms. However, the urgency of the current political climate may force them to accept a more modest approach to preserve relationships and public support.

Moving Forward

If the House passes the CR in the next 36 hours, the federal government will re‑open on 1 April, ending the shutdown that has gripped the country for 40 days. The final bill is expected to include the ACA subsidies and maintain defense funding, marking a bipartisan compromise that will preserve essential services while providing a path for future budget negotiations.

The next steps for both chambers will involve finalizing the language of the CR, debating any amendments, and voting. The urgency and public pressure may keep the House from adding significant new spending or political concessions, making this an unprecedented moment for bipartisan compromise.

As the House convenes, lawmakers and the public alike will be watching closely to see whether the Senate’s first step toward ending the shutdown can be turned into a full, lasting resolution—one that protects federal workers, preserves crucial services, and maintains the Affordable Care Act subsidies that many Americans rely on.