US Senate takes steps to end the shutdown

2025-11-10 15:07:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The US government has been shut down since October 1 after Democrats refused to support a Republican-drafted spending bill that they said would cut health care for millions of people.

The shutdown has kept federal workers at home, while also disrupting air travel and food aid. With the support of some Democrats, the vote to approve the funding bill passed by a margin of 60 to 40.

Republicans currently hold the majority in the Senate, with 53 of the 100 seats in the upper chamber. Seven Democrats and one independent senator voted to approve the package.

What does the draft law propose?

The bill would restore funding for the SNAP food stamp program, which helps 42 million people pay for groceries. Thousands of federal workers laid off by President Donald Trump last month would also be brought back to work. Food banks across the U.S. are overwhelmed by the surge in demand due to the SNAP freeze.

On the core issue of health care, Republicans also agreed to hold a vote in December on extending the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, which expire at the end of the year.

Democrats have insisted that any vote to reopen the US government must also be linked to a vote to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. Low-income Americans rely on these subsidies to pay for their private health insurance.

"I have long said that to win my vote, we must move toward fixing the Republican health care disaster and protecting federal workers," Democratic Senator Tim Kaine said in a statement.

However, many Democratic senators opposed the deal. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer voted against the measure, arguing that the deal provides a vote to extend health care tax credits, rather than expanding them directly.

What happens next?

Sunday's vote clears the way for the Senate to approve the measure. It will then go to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives for approval before reaching President Trump's desk for his signature. The process could take several days, or longer, depending on the level of opposition.

When the Senate reconvenes on Monday, Republicans said they will try to speed up the voting process to quickly pass the bill through procedural steps and end the deadlock before the weekend.

"It was a good vote tonight," Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters after the Senate adjourned Sunday.

"We hope that tomorrow we will have an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming elections. Of course, this will require some cooperation and consent." /DW