The Senate took a step Sunday night toward ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, voting 60-40 to advance a bipartisan funding package that would reopen federal agencies and restore benefits to millions of Americans.

The Senate needs to hold a final vote to officially pass the government funding legislation before it can go to the House. The vote late Sunday night was a procedural step to advance the bill, not the final vote on its passage. Senators are expected to continue debate and could take the final vote as early as today or in the next couple of days.

Seven Democratic senators and one independent who caucuses with Democrats provided the crucial votes needed to overcome the 60-vote threshold: Senators Dick Durbin (Illinois), Tim Kaine (Virginia), Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire), Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada), Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire), Jacky Rosen (Nevada), and John Fetterman (Pennsylvania), along with Independent Angus King of Maine. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky was the only Republican to vote against the measure.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries vowed to fight the legislation, declaring that House Democrats “will not support spending legislation advanced by Senate Republicans that fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.”

The comprehensive funding package combines a short-term continuing resolution with three full-year appropriations bills:​

Short-term funding: A continuing resolution extends government operations at current fiscal year 2025 levels through January 30, 2026, setting up another potential shutdown showdown early next year.​

Full-year appropriations: The package provides complete funding through September 30, 2026 (the end of fiscal year 2026) for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture (including the FDA), and the legislative branch.​

SNAP benefits restored: The deal ensures full funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program through September 2026, reversing cuts that had reduced November benefits to 65% of normal levels and threatened food assistance for 42 million Americans.​

Federal workforce protections: The legislation reverses layoffs of federal employees that occurred during the shutdown, guarantees back pay for all furloughed workers, and bans additional reductions-in-force through January 30.​

Congressional security funding: The package allocates $204 million for enhanced security for members of Congress, $852 million for U.S. Capitol Police, and $812 million for the Government Accountability Office.

The three full-year appropriations bills largely reject spending cuts proposed by President Trump earlier this year. For example, while the administration sought to eliminate the Food for Peace program, the bill allocates money for the initiative.

The package omits an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, which are set to expire on December 31, 2025. These subsidies have been the central Democratic demand throughout the shutdown standoff.

Instead of including the extension in the funding package, Senate Majority Leader John Thune committed to holding a separate vote in mid-December on legislation to renew healthcare subsidies. Senator Bernie Sanders cautioned that even if a healthcare measure passes the Senate, the House is unlikely to bring it to the floor, and regardless of congressional passage, the President has indicated he would veto it.

Without an extension of enhanced subsidies, Americans enrolled in ACA marketplace plans face dramatic cost increases. The average enrollee’s annual premium payments will more than double—from $888 in 2025 to $1,904 in 2026, a 114% increase. Some will be hit even harder: a 60-year-old couple making $85,000 annually could see premiums rise by over $22,600 per year.​

Nearly half of all enrollees currently pay $0 or close to $0 in monthly premiums thanks to enhanced subsidies. Those with incomes just above the poverty line will see payments jump from nearly nothing to several hundred dollars annually. Middle-income enrollees with incomes above 400% of the federal poverty level ($63,000 for an individual) will lose all assistance entirely.​

Experts project that 2 to 4 million Americans could lose health insurance coverage if the subsidies expire.

House lawmakers received notice late Sunday that they should be ready to return to Washington this week, with 36 hours’ notice before any votes. The House has been out of session since September 19.

Despite Jeffries’ opposition, passage in the House appears probable. Republicans hold a 219-214 majority, giving them a narrow path to pass the bill without Democratic support. 

If the Senate clears the legislation in the coming days, the House could return by the end of this week to vote on the measure. Assuming President Trump signs it the government could reopen before the weekend.

Even if successful, this deal only provides temporary relief. With most government funding expiring on January 30, 2026, lawmakers will face another shutdown deadline in less than three months. The healthcare subsidies issue also remains unresolved, with no guarantee that the promised December vote will result in an extension before the December 31 expiration.