The U.S. Senate has reached a deal with a group of eight Democratic minority members to reopen the federal government in five weeks, working with Republicans in exchange for future votes on extending health care subsidies and guaranteed reinstatement for federal workers laid off during the shutdown.
The bill, which had failed 14 times, was passed by a 60-40 vote, clearing the way for the government to reopen this weekend, according to US television station CBS.
The group of eight Democrats joining the Republicans is Dick Durbin of Illinois; Angus King, from Maine. Catherine Cortez and Jackie Rose, both from Nevada. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. Written by Time Kane, Virginia. Also participating were New Hampshire natives Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan. Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky again voted against the plan.
The proposal would authorize funding for military construction, veterans projects, the Department of Defense, the Department of Agriculture, and the Legislature until September 30, 2026. It also includes interim measures to fund the rest of the government through January 30 next year and the reinstatement of more than 4,000 federal workers who were laid off during the shutdown, according to digital newspaper The Hill.
But the project still needs approval from the House of Representatives before it can be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature, who suggested hours before the vote that it “looks like we’re getting very close to the end of the shutdown.”
Pressure on Democratic senators was already mounting when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds, on which millions of people in the North American country depend, expired earlier this month. In addition, thousands of flights will be canceled due to a shortage of air traffic controllers, and the government shutdown could cause gross domestic product (GDP) to contract in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to White House National Economic Council Chairman Kevin Hassent.
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