Congress Breaks Gridlock: Senate Reaches Deal to End Longest US Government Shutdown

The US Senate reached a crucial agreement on Sunday to end the longest government shutdown in the nation's history, following a five-week gridlock. The breakthrough occurred after an influential Democratic bloc agreed to a funding deal in exchange for a future vote on extending affordable healthcare support.

Deal Details and Action Taken

• Decisive Vote: The Senate voted 60 to 40 to overcome the Democratic filibuster on the government funding legislation, a direct step towards reopening the government.

• Breaking the Impasse: The deal that ended the stalemate was secured with the approval of 8 moderate Democratic senators and one Independent senator. It linked temporary government funding to a subsequent vote on extending healthcare support—a contentious issue—along with guarantees for rehiring furloughed federal employees.

• Funding Structure: The agreement includes a new temporary measure to extend government funding until January, tied to a larger package to fully fund several key agencies.

• Key Votes: Among the Democratic senators who voted to advance the package were Catherine Cortez Masto, Dick Durbin, Jon Fetterman, Tim Kaine, Maggie Hassan, Jacky Rosen, Jeanne Shaheen, and Independent Senator Angus King.

Remaining Steps to End the Shutdown

Despite the breakthrough in the Senate, several steps remain necessary before the government can fully reopen:

• Potential Delay: Any senator could still delay consideration of the package for several days.

• House Role: The House of Representatives must return and vote to adopt the deal reached in the Senate.

• Timeline: Senate sessions were adjourned until Monday morning. House Democratic leadership informed members to anticipate a vote later this week, with 36 hours' notice provided to lawmakers facing flight delays and cancellations due to the shutdown.