Mon, 10 Nov 2025

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 US Senate passes deal aimed at ending longest ever government shutdown

The measure signals a major breakthrough but the deal still needs to get over more hurdles in Congress.
The US government shutdown has taken a crucial step towards an end, as a deal passed the Senate with a vote from both Republicans and Democrats. The agreement will need further approval from the House of Representatives before federal employees can return to work on paid leave. The current record-breaking shutdown has lasted for 40 days, affecting over 1.4 million government workers and various services, including air travel and food benefits for millions of low-income Americans. The deal was negotiated between Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the White House, with some Democratic senators crossing party lines to vote in favour. The agreement includes provisions for a December vote on extending healthcare subsidies that are set to expire this year, a key demand from Democrats. However, not all Democratic leaders were satisfied with the compromise, with several expressing disappointment that more concessions had not been secured. The Senate Majority Leader, John Thune, expressed optimism about the breakthrough, while others have criticized their colleagues for voting in favour of an agreement without concrete guarantees on healthcare. Key aspects of the deal include:
* Funding for agencies like veterans affairs and agriculture
* Continuing resolution to finance the rest of the government until 30 January
* Guarantees that all federal workers will be paid for time during the shutdown
* Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) until next September. The agreement is seen as a crucial first step towards ending the impasse, but further hurdles must be cleared before federal employees and services can return to normal.
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