The US Senate voted to reopen the government.
The bill passed by the Senate to reopen the federal government will be voted on by the House of Representatives as early as 4 p.m. on November 12 (Washington time).
According to CNN, a group of Democratic senators, along with Republicans, voted on the evening of November 10 (Washington time) to pass a funding bill aimed at reopening the federal government.
This budget agreement will now be sent to the House of Representatives, where Republican leaders hope it can be passed as early as Wednesday (November 12), ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The newly reached agreement – expected to be signed by President Donald Trump – will restore essential services such as federal food assistance and pay the salaries of hundreds of thousands of public employees.
Eight Democratic members of the Senate defected to vote with the Republicans, resulting in a 60-40 vote. One Republican Senator, Rand Paul of Kentucky, was the only one to vote against the motion.
This shutdown inflicted significant political damage on Capitol Hill. Recent polls show Republicans consistently blamed for the budget paralysis. Meanwhile, the deal pushed by centrist Democratic senators reignited internal debate about the party's strategy in the 41-day budget battle and its next steps.
Most Democratic lawmakers want to continue the fight, even as moderates argue that, with President Trump's unwavering refusal to compromise, the chances of winning a healthcare policy victory are low. Instead, the moderates have secured a commitment to a future vote on their chosen healthcare bill, which Democrats hope will receive Republican support. However, there is still no guarantee that the bill will pass the Senate, let alone the House of Representatives.
The late-night vote on November 10th brought to a close days of tense negotiations at the Capitol, following a series of quiet talks between centrist Democratic senators, Republican leaders, and the White House, before the official agreement was announced.
Although he didn't directly vote on the final agreement, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is facing intense criticism from the left wing of his party for allowing the centrist group to reach an agreement without securing any concrete results on extending benefits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — which is about to expire and will lead to increased insurance premiums for millions of Americans.
Many Democrats in both houses believe the party will have to re-engage in this budget battle on January 30, when the next funding package expires. However, this larger bill would secure funding for several key agencies — including federal food assistance programs, the Women, Infants and Young Children (WIC) nutrition program, and veterans' programs — through fiscal year 2026.
Now, attention shifts to House Speaker Mike Johnson and other House members who are returning to Washington after working locally since mid-September.
According to an announcement from Assistant Majority Leader Tom Emmer, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on the Senate-passed bill to reopen the federal government as early as 4 p.m. on November 12 (Washington time).
