Politics

Senate Passes Funding Measure to End Shutdown: How Trump’s Approval and Centrist Democrats Brokered a Deal

Senate approved a bill to reopen the government, ending the shutdown. The House will vote next; Trump expected to sign.

byEditorial Staff

November 10, 2025, 10:52 PM

Washington Monument and US Capitol building with American flags

The Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol Building are shown with American flags on a clear day. By MDL.

Executive Summary

The Senate approved a bipartisan funding measure to end the 41-day federal government shutdown, passing it 60-40.

The funding deal did not include an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, a key demand for many Democrats.

The measure now moves to the House, and President Trump has indicated his approval and is expected to sign it into law.

The Story So Far

The federal government has endured its longest-ever shutdown for 41 days due to a funding dispute, with Republicans largely bearing the brunt of public blame for the impasse. This political pressure, combined with President Trump’s firm stance against extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, prompted centrist Democrats to negotiate a bipartisan compromise to reopen the government, prioritizing the restoration of federal services and worker pay over immediate policy victories on healthcare.

Why This Matters

The bipartisan agreement to reopen the federal government will restore critical services and pay federal workers, ending the longest-ever U.S. shutdown, but the deal’s failure to secure enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies means millions could face increased premiums. This compromise highlights internal divisions within the Democratic party and sets the stage for a renewed funding battle when the next tranche expires, with the current measure still requiring House approval and President Trump’s support.

Who Thinks What?

Centrist Democrats and the majority of the Senate Democratic caucus supported the bipartisan funding measure to reopen the government, arguing it was the most achievable outcome given President Trump’s firm stance, and secured a promise for a future vote on a health care bill.

Republicans and President Trump supported the funding deal to restore federal services and end the shutdown, with Trump personally approving the measure.

Many Democrats, particularly from the party’s left, criticized the compromise for failing to secure an immediate extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, believing the fight for policy wins on health care should have continued.

The Senate voted late Monday, November 10, 2025, to approve a funding measure aimed at reopening the federal government and ending the longest-ever U.S. shutdown. The bipartisan compromise, which now moves to the House, was passed without securing an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, a key demand from many Democrats.

The measure saw eight members of the Democratic caucus join Republicans in a 60-40 vote. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky was the sole Republican to oppose the bill. President Trump is expected to sign the deal, which would restore critical federal services, including food aid and veterans’ programs, and provide pay for hundreds of thousands of federal workers.

Political Dynamics and Negotiations

The 41-day funding dispute has proven politically challenging on Capitol Hill, with recent polling indicating Republicans have largely borne the brunt of public blame. The deal, brokered by centrist Democrats in the Senate, has sparked internal debate within the Democratic party regarding its strategy moving forward.

Many Democrats had sought to continue the fight for policy wins on health care. However, centrists argued that President Trump’s firm stance made such gains unlikely, instead securing a promise for a future vote on a health care bill of their choosing. The passage of such a bill in both chambers remains uncertain.

Negotiations for the funding deal intensified over the weekend, involving Senate centrists, GOP leaders, and the White House. The eight Democratic senators who ultimately supported the measure were Dick Durbin, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Jeanne Shaheen, Catherine Cortez Masto, John Fetterman, Jacky Rosen, and Angus King, an independent caucusing with Democrats.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faced criticism from the party’s left for allowing the centrists to strike a deal without immediate wins on ACA subsidies, which are set to expire and could lead to increased premiums for millions of Americans. Many Democrats anticipate a renewed funding battle when the next tranche of funding expires on January 30.

Path Forward in the House

Attention now shifts to House Speaker Mike Johnson and House members, who are returning to Washington after a district work period. Speaker Johnson will likely require President Trump’s support to guide the package through his often-fractious conference.

In an optimistic sign, Trump told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Monday that he personally approved of the deal. “I think, based on everything I’m hearing, they haven’t changed anything, and we have support from enough Democrats, and we’re going to be opening up our country,” Trump stated. “It’s too bad it was closed, but we’ll be opening up our country very quickly.”