Congress Moves Toward Ending Shutdown After Weeks of Gridlock

By: Jordain Carney | Politico

The Senate voted to break the shutdown stalemate Sunday, paving the way for the government to reopen as soon as later this week.

The 60-40 vote to take the first step toward ending the shutdown came hours after enough Democrats agreed to support a package that would fund multiple agencies and programs for the full fiscal year, and all others until Jan. 30, 2026.

In exchange, Democrats have a commitment from the Trump administration to rehire government workers fired at the start of the funding lapse, and the promise of a Senate floor vote in December on legislation to extend expiring Obamacare tax credits.

In the end, eight members of the Senate Democratic Caucus voted Sunday night to advance the House-passed stopgap, which is being used as a vehicle for the larger funding deal.

The vote will pave the way for consideration later this week of a legislative package that would fund the Department of Agriculture and the FDA, the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction projects, and the operations of Congress for all of current fiscal year — the product of months of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations between top appropriators.

All other agencies would be funded through Jan. 30, according to the text of a continuing resolution released Sunday. The agreement still needs to pass the House before the government can be reopened.

“After 40 long days, I’m hopeful we can bring this shutdown to an end,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said shortly before the vote.

The framework to end the shutdown was painstakingly negotiated by Thune and members of the Senate Democratic Caucus, including Sens. Angus King, Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan. Rank-and-file Republicans were also at the negotiating table, alongside members of the Senate Appropriations Committee including Chair Susan Collins.

The breakthrough came 40 days into the shutdown and as the consequences were quickly becoming more dire — from legal confusion over the disbursement of SNAP food assistance to the decision to cancel thousands of flights out of major airports to relieve overworked and unpaid air traffic controllers.

As part of the deal, Democratic negotiators agreed to ensure at least eight members from their caucus would approve procedural motions to advance the government funding package. There are still additional steps before the Senate can pass the funding deal, but Sunday’s vote sent a strong signal that Senate GOP leaders now have the necessary support in their chamber to pass legislation to end the longest shutdown in history.

Progressives, however, are privately warning they will not yield back all the time required before a final passage vote, an act of resistance that could delay the shutdown several more days. Leaders are also watching Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who has threatened to hold up passage due to a policy dispute. The Senate, however, is expected to leave for a previously scheduled weeklong recess as soon as it can clear the funding package for the House, which could incentivize lawmakers not to hold up the process.

Following the vote late Sunday, Thune said it “remains to be seen” how quickly the Senate will be able to get to a final vote on the spending deal, including if senators will agree to yield back time Monday. Paul wants a vote to remove hemp language as part of the three-bill minibus and a “guarantee,” according to Thune, that the amendment will be successful.

Thune also cited concerns among three conservatives senators — Mike Lee, Ron Johnson and Rick Scott — who delayed voting on the procedural measure because they wanted to talk about the “overall budget process.” Johnson, according to Thune, also had shutdown-related legislation that he wants a vote on.

The breakthrough follows weeks of closed-door negotiations not only among a bipartisan group of rank-and-file senators but also Thune and, according to one of the people granted anonymity to share private conversations, President Donald Trump.

As part of Democrats’ agreement to end the shutdown, Thune is promising Senate Democrats a vote in mid-December to extend ACA subsidies that are due to expire at the end of the year without congressional action. Democrats will also get to determine what bill providing that extension gets voted on.

The shutdown-ending agreement guarantees that federal employees laid off during the shutdown are rehired and gives federal employees back pay. It also would require agencies to give written notice to Congress about the withdrawal of the layoff notices issued during the funding lapse, plus details on the amount of back pay owed.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT POLITICO