WASHINGTON — Speaker Mike Johnson urged House lawmakers Monday to return to Washington “right now” following a breakthrough in the Senate that could finally end the government shutdown.
Late Sunday evening, a small group of Senate Democrats joined Republicans to break a 40-day stalemate by voting to advance legislation aimed at reopening the government. The Senate voted 60-40 to consider a compromise bill to fund the government, though the timing of final votes remains uncertain.
At a Monday morning news conference, Johnson said, “The nightmare is finally coming to an end,” emphasizing the urgency. “We have to do this as quickly as possible.” He has kept the House out of session since mid-September, after the House passed a bill to continue government funding.
After weeks of tense negotiations, moderate Senate Democrats agreed to reopen the government without securing a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies—a move that angered many in their caucus. These Democrats had demanded for more than six weeks that Republicans negotiate with them regarding the Affordable Care Act tax credits, which expire on January 1.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) promised a mid-December vote on the subsidies but did not guarantee its success. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York voted against moving forward with the package, as did most Democrats. “We will not give up the fight,” Schumer said, adding that Democrats have “sounded the alarm” on health care.
An end to the shutdown could still be days away if any senators raise objections and prolong the process. Thune acknowledged on Sunday evening that he was addressing concerns within his Republican conference about certain provisions in the underlying spending bills. One such Republican, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, threatened to object to a controversial provision championed by his colleague, Senator Mitch McConnell, aimed at preventing the sale of some hemp-based products. “We’ll revisit that tomorrow after we have more clarity on where things stand,” Thune told reporters.
### President’s Response and Five Democrats Switch Votes
While President Donald Trump has not yet stated whether he will sign the bill, he told reporters Sunday evening that it “looks like we’re getting close to the shutdown ending.”
Crucially, a group of three former governors—Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, and Independent Angus King of Maine—broke the stalemate by agreeing to vote to advance three bipartisan annual spending bills. These bills would extend government funding until late January in exchange for a mid-December vote on extending health care tax credits.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune quickly endorsed the deal and called for an immediate vote to begin the approval process. The shutdown has caused widespread disruptions, including affecting nationwide flights, threatening food assistance for millions, and leaving federal workers unpaid. “The time to act is now,” Thune stated.
Alongside Shaheen, King, and Hassan, Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia—home to many federal workers—also voted in favor. In addition, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, and Nevada Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen voted yes.
Though 10-12 Democratic senators had participated in negotiations, only five Democrats ultimately switched their votes—the exact number Republicans needed. Notably, King, Cortez Masto, and Fetterman had already supported opening the government since the shutdown began on October 1.
### A Bipartisan Agreement
Democrats had voted 14 times against reopening the government without an extension of health care subsidies, but Republicans refused to negotiate on this issue. GOP leaders, however, have quietly worked with moderate Democrats as the agreement took shape.
The deal includes bipartisan bills crafted by the Senate Appropriations Committee to fund key areas such as food aid, veterans programs, and the legislative branch. Other funding would be extended until the end of January, allowing lawmakers over two months to complete additional spending bills.
The agreement also reverses recent mass firings of federal workers due to the shutdown, ensuring federal employees receive back pay. It reimburses states that used their own resources to maintain federal programs and protects against further reductions in federal staff through January.
### Democratic Opposition and Criticism
Despite some Democrats’ support, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the vote a “mistake” after a lengthy caucus meeting Sunday. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders labeled abandoning the fight a “horrific mistake,” while Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut argued that voters expect Democrats to “hold firm.”
House Democrats reacted swiftly with criticism. Texas Representative Greg Casar, chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, called the deal a “betrayal” for millions relying on Democrats to fight for affordable health care. “Accepting nothing but a pinky promise from Republicans isn’t a compromise — it’s capitulation,” Casar wrote on X.
Minnesota Representative Angie Craig dismissed the deal as a sham. Meanwhile, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries blamed Republicans and vowed Democrats would continue fighting. “Donald Trump and the Republican Party own the toxic mess they have created in our country and the American people know it,” Jeffries said.
### Health Care Debate Looms Ahead
It remains unclear whether the parties can find common ground on health care subsidies before the promised December Senate vote. Speaker Johnson has not committed to bringing the matter before the House.
On Monday, Johnson reiterated that House Republicans remain open to reforming what he called the “unaffordable care act,” but again withheld any commitment on voting for subsidies. While some Republicans support extending COVID-19-era tax credits to avoid premium spikes, they seek stricter eligibility criteria and prefer routing the tax dollars through individuals.
Others, including former President Trump, have renewed longstanding criticism of the law, calling for its repeal or overhaul.
### Shutdown Effects Worsen
Meanwhile, the consequences of the shutdown continue to mount. On Sunday, U.S. airlines canceled over 2,000 flights for the first time since the shutdown began, with more than 7,000 delays reported, according to FlightAware, a travel tracking website.
Treasury Secretary Sean Duffy warned on CNN’s “State of the Union” that air travel ahead of Thanksgiving could be “reduced to a trickle” if the government remains closed.
At the same time, food aid has been delayed for tens of millions as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits become entangled in legal battles related to the shutdown.
In Washington, home to tens of thousands of unpaid federal workers, the Capital Area Food Bank is ramping up support, providing 8 million more meals ahead of the holidays than initially planned—a nearly 20% increase.
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As lawmakers work to finalize the deal, the nation watches closely, hopeful that the government shutdown may soon come to an end.
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