Is the government shutdown over? Where the deal stands after the Senate vote

Bassyonni

ago 2 hours

Is the government shutdown over

The answer today is not yet—but the end is in sight. Late Monday night (Nov. 10, 2025), the U.S. Senate approved a funding package in a 60–40 vote that would end the government shutdown and restore operations through January 30, 2026, while locking in three full-year agency funding measures. The bill now heads to the House, which is expected to reconvene midweek for a vote. Until the House passes the package and the President signs it, the government is not fully reopened.

Shutdown update: what the Senate passed and what it means

The Senate’s package blends a short-term stopgap with several full-year appropriations. Practically, that means agencies would regain authority to spend, contractors could restart paused work, and furloughed federal employees would return with back pay once the bill becomes law. Transportation disruptions tied to staffing shortages—TSA, FAA, and some federal inspection functions—would ease as recall orders go out.

One flashpoint remains: the bill does not include an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, which are set to lapse at year’s end unless lawmakers act separately. Senate leaders have pledged to bring the ACA issue up in December. That omission explains much of the intra-party friction among Democrats even as they moved votes to end the shutdown.

Is the government open right now?

No. As of Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, the federal government is still operating under shutdown conditions. Normal operations resume only after House passage and presidential signature. Agencies typically issue recall memos within hours of enactment; some services can flip on quickly (e.g., National Parks staffing, benefits processing), while others ramp over 24–72 hours based on safety checks and scheduling.

When will the House vote—and how many votes are needed?

House leaders indicated they will return to Washington as soon as Wednesday to consider the Senate package. Unlike the Senate’s 60-vote requirement, the House needs a simple majority of members present and voting. If the House approves the bill the same day and it reaches the President promptly, reopening could begin within a day of signage. Timing remains contingent on amendment attempts and floor procedures.

Which Democrats voted to end the shutdown?

Eight members of the Senate Democratic caucus joined Republicans to clear the 60-vote threshold:

Tim Kaine (Virginia)
Dick Durbin (Illinois)
Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire)
Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire)
Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada)
Jacky Rosen (Nevada)
John Fetterman (Pennsylvania)
Angus King (Maine, Independent who caucuses with Democrats)

One Republican—Rand Paul (Kentucky)—voted no.

What’s in the shutdown deal—and what’s not

Included:

Authority to reopen the government and fund most agencies through Jan. 30, 2026 (with three full-year bills finalized).
Back pay for federal employees and contractors affected by furloughs and layoffs, plus a pause on workforce cuts through January.
Funding to stabilize air traffic control hiring/training pipelines and reduce TSA overtime backlogs.
Restored funding for SNAP and other essential safety-net programs.

Excluded or deferred:

ACA premium tax credit extension (separate December vote pledged).
Broader healthcare or immigration provisions sought by each party.
Long-term topline spending caps beyond the January date.

Why the Senate moved now

After 40+ days of a grinding impasse, pressure mounted from several directions: looming benefit cliffs, escalating travel delays, and the risk that prolonged workforce disruptions would take months to unwind even after a deal. A core group of Democrats argued that continuing the shutdown to leverage the ACA issue risked broader collateral damage. Republicans framed the package as a clean reopening path with policy debates moved to December and the full FY26 process.

What to watch next

House floor strategy: Will leadership take up the Senate bill as-is, or attempt amendments that could slow the timeline? A clean vote points to the fastest reopening.
Agency restart memos: Once signed, look for same-day or next-day guidance on return-to-work timing, back pay schedules, and contractor restart procedures.
Healthcare cliff in December: The promised vote on ACA credits will define whether January premiums spike for millions or remain cushioned into 2026.
January 30 deadline: The stopgap portion sets up another funding decision. Watch whether negotiators convert additional agencies to full-year bills to reduce shutdown risk.

Quick answers to your top searches

Is the government shutdown over / is the government open? Not yet. The Senate cleared a bill; the House and President still must act.
Did the Senate vote today to reopen the government? Yes—60–40 late Monday night sent the bill to the House.
Which Democrats voted with Republicans to end the shutdown? Durbin, Kaine, Hassan, Shaheen, Cortez Masto, Rosen, Fetterman, and King.
When will the government reopen? Earliest is after the House vote and presidential signature, potentially within 24 hours of enactment.
Is the shutdown ending? Very likely, pending the House; details may evolve.