US Senate Moves to End Longest Government Shutdown with Stopgap Funding Deal:

The United States Senate has voted to move forward with a stopgap funding package designed to end the longest government shutdown in the nation’s history. In a key procedural vote on Sunday, 60 senators voted in favor and 40 against, signaling bipartisan support to reopen the government after 40 days of closure. The measure, advanced with support from eight Democrats, would extend federal funding through January 30, while providing a full year of funding for key programs such as food aid, veterans’ services, and the legislative branch. However, it does not immediately address the extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, a major Democratic priority. Instead, the agreement includes a promise for a Senate vote on healthcare subsidies by December. Al Jazeera’s Washington correspondent Mike Hanna explained that Sunday’s vote was a cloture vote, which allows the Senate to move forward with debate and amendments. Once cloture passes with a 60-vote threshold, subsequent votes require only a simple majority — making final passage of the funding bill likely. Among the Democrats who broke ranks to support the Republican-led measure were Dick Durbin (Illinois), Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire), Tim Kaine (Virginia), John Fetterman (Pennsylvania), Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen (Nevada), along with Independent Senator Angus King of Maine, who caucuses with Democrats. Despite this bipartisan movement, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer opposed the proposal, saying he could not “in good faith” support it without guaranteed protections for healthcare subsidies. “We will not give up the fight,” Schumer said, emphasizing that Democrats have “sounded the alarm” on affordable healthcare. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders called the compromise a “horrific mistake,” while Senator Chris Murphy said that voters had sent a clear message in last week’s elections urging Democrats to stand firm. Since the shutdown began on October 1, Democrats had repeatedly refused to vote for temporary funding without a commitment to extend the ACA’s tax credits, which help millions afford health insurance. Republicans have maintained they would only consider that issue after reopening the government. The bipartisan deal includes measures to reinstate federal employees who were furloughed, reimburse states that used their own funds to maintain federal programs, and guarantee back pay for affected workers once the government reopens. It also prevents further layoffs until at least the end of January. However, divisions remain over healthcare subsidies. House Speaker Mike Johnson has not committed to bringing a healthcare vote to the House floor, while former President Donald Trump and several Republicans renewed calls to overhaul or repeal the ACA altogether. Meanwhile, the effects of the shutdown have deepened nationwide. More than 2,000 flights were canceled on Sunday, with thousands more delayed, as federal aviation staff shortages continued. Treasury Secretary Sean Duffy warned that Thanksgiving travel could be “reduced to a trickle” if funding isn’t restored soon. Food aid has also been disrupted, delaying benefits for tens of millions of Americans. In Washington, DC, the Capital Area Food Bank reported distributing nearly 20% more meals than planned to help struggling federal workers and their families. As both parties push for a long-term deal, the procedural vote marks a significant step toward reopening the US government — but leaves the battle over healthcare subsidies far from resolved.

NEWS