Senate MOVES to End Shutdown with 60-40 Vote — “We Need to Get Back to the Business of Governing”

 

Senate MOVES to End Shutdown with 60-40 Vote — “We Need to Get Back to the Business of Governing”

By Reprezent Daily · November 11, 2025 · Politics

It was supposed to be just another round of budget negotiations on Capitol Hill — but late Monday night, the halls of the United States Senate were electric. After weeks of stalemate, missed deadlines and mounting pressure, the Senate voted 60–40 to pass a sweeping funding package aimed at ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. MarketScreener+5AP News+5Reuters+5

💥 The Breaking Point

“At this hour, we stand at the edge of something significant,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) as the result flashed on the chamber’s board: 60 Yes – 40 No. For weeks, millions of Americans watched as federal workers went unpaid, key services stalled and days of momentum slipped through the hands of lawmakers. MarketScreener+1
During the vote count,  The dissenting tally stood at 40 — a sizeable number, but not enough to block the outcome.

“The yays are 60, the nays are 40. The bill, as amended, is passed.” MarketScreener+1

🏛️ Behind the Scenes: A Chamber Frozen in Time

The shutdown dragged on for more than 40 days, marking the longest in U.S. history. It began on October 1 after Congress failed to pass appropriations bills or a continuing resolution. The Guardian+2AP News+2
Federal workers across the country were furloughed or required to work without pay. SNAP food-benefit distributions were delayed, air-travel disruptions increased, and thousands of contract workers faced uncertainty. Reuters+1
The Capitol steps and halls echoed with tension: committee hearings became standoffs; plea efforts from state delegations grew more urgent. In the Senate lounge and offices, aides and staff compared notes: “When will this end?” was the recurring query.

🌍 The Deal: What’s in the Package

The legislation approved by the Senate is not a permanent fix, but a stop-gap wrapped in three full-year funding bills. Key points include:

• Funding of the majority of federal agencies through January 30, 2026. The Guardian+2Wikipedia+2

• Full-year appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, the Food & Drug Administration, the Legislative Branch and military-construction projects. Wikipedia+1

• Guarantee of back pay for furloughed workers, and a prohibition on further federal layoffs tied to the shutdown until the deadline. TIME+1
  However — and this is crucial — the bill does not include an extension of the enhanced tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that millions rely on. That omission has become the flashpoint for Democratic criticism. The Washington Post+1
  Senate Democrats had pushed hard for those subsidies to be locked into the deal. Instead, the agreement sets a promise of a vote on them in December, with no guarantee of passage. The Guardian

⚡ Politics & Priorities: “Take Care of the Country First”

Supporters of the deal argued that continuing the shutdown was untenable. Senator Thune remarked, “I know the strain of these weeks has been immense … I’m grateful for all you have done.” MarketScreener
On the floor, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) countered: “We will not give up the fight for affordable health care.” The deal, he said, “abandons millions relying on subsidies.” TIME+1
At the same time, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) urged the House to act quickly: “We’ll pass this as soon as possible,” he said, calling the Senate result decisive. Reuters

💬 The Fallout: Fractures in the Democratic Camps

What turned heads was the eight or so Democrats who broke ranks and voted yes with Republicans. Among them: John Fetterman (D-PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). The Guardian+1
Within party circles, the vote triggered immediate backlash. Some lawmakers accused their colleagues of abandoning core commitments; others defended the pragmatism of ending the shutdown.

“People realised this really needs to end, the mass chaos,” Fetterman told a news programme. The Guardian
Republicans, meanwhile, celebrated near-unanimous support across their ranks — only one GOP senator opposed the deal. The Washington Post

⚠️ What Happens Now?

The Senate’s vote is a milestone, but it’s not the finish line. The bill still must pass the United States House of Representatives and then be signed by Donald Trump to become law. House Speaker Johnson has indicated a vote could occur as early as Wednesday. AP News
Analysts caution that because the health-care subsidies were deferred rather than settled, the next few weeks could bring renewed turbulence. “This is not a deal — it’s an empty promise,” warned one critic. The Guardian
If no agreement is reached on the ACA subsidies or full-year appropriations, the government could face another closure or partial lapse early next year.

🕯️ Final Word: “We Can’t Fix the World by Breaking Ourselves”

In the end, this story is about far more than budget lines and votes. It’s about how a government reacts when its gears grind to a halt — and how much faith the public and its workers still have in the system.
Senator Thune said it plainly: “After six excruciating weeks, I will stop talking and let all of you get some rest.”