Washington, Nov. 11, 2025 – The longest government shutdown in U.S. history was brought within a single step of coming to an end on Monday night after the Senate approved a proposal to reopen the government.
A group of eight Senate Democrats joined Republicans to overcome the filibuster and approve a funding bill that will end the record-breaking standoff.
That legislation now moves to the House of Representatives, which is expected to vote on it as early as Wednesday.
The bill passed by the Senate would fund most of the government until Jan. 30 and extend funding for certain key programs, including food stamps and veterans benefits, through the end of September.
The breakthrough in the Senate occurred on Sunday, when a decisive number of centrist Democrats announced they had gotten enough concessions from the GOP to secure their votes.
Democratic leaders in both chambers of Congress have said they oppose the compromise.
Now that the logjam in the Senate has finally broken, all eyes will shift to the House of Representatives.
The House has been out of session since September, but Speaker Mike Johnson has instructed members to return to Washington in order to hold the last vote that’s needed to reopen the government.
Republicans hold the majority in the House, so they don’t need any Democrats on board to approve the proposal.
Their margin is razor-thin, however, so even a handful of defections from within their party could be enough to hold up the plan if Democrats are united in opposition.
Congress is off on Tuesday for Veterans Day.
House leaders are reportedly hopeful they will be able to send a funding bill to President Trump’s desk by Wednesday, the 43rd day of the shutdown. (Reuters)
