The U.S. Senate is poised to vote on a bill aimed at ending the federal government shutdown, which has now lasted for an unprecedented 40 days. Senators are expected to conduct a vote on Sunday night to advance a House-passed measure that would be amended to include a short-term funding provision, allowing the government to operate through January 2026. This legislative effort, according to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, will also integrate a package of three full-year appropriations bills.
Under this proposal, the amended package will still require approval from the House of Representatives before it can be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature, a process that may take several days. Senate Democrats have been hesitant to support the funding measure, seeking concessions from Republicans to address healthcare issues, particularly the extension of expiring subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal indicated his opposition to the funding measure, although he acknowledged there might be sufficient Democratic backing to ensure its passage. “I am unwilling to accept a vague promise of a vote at some indeterminate time on some undefined measure that extends the healthcare tax credits,” Blumenthal stated.
This shutdown has had significant repercussions, affecting federal workers, food aid programs, national parks, and travel. Concerns are particularly heightened as staffing shortages in air traffic control could disrupt travel during the busy Thanksgiving holiday period, which falls on November 27 this year.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina noted that the urgency created by the shutdown’s consequences has driven the Senate toward a potential agreement. He expressed optimism that a resolution to fund government operations through late January would also address some of the mass layoffs of federal workers enacted during the Trump administration. “Temperatures cool, the atmospheric pressure increases outside and all of a sudden it looks like things will come together,” Tillis remarked.
Warnings about the economic impact of the shutdown have also surfaced. Kevin Hassett, a White House economic adviser, cautioned that prolonged closure could lead to negative economic growth in the fourth quarter, particularly if air travel does not normalize by Thanksgiving.
As negotiations unfold, President Trump has reiterated his stance on healthcare subsidies. He proposed replacing the current subsidies for the ACA’s health insurance marketplaces with direct payments to individuals. These subsidies have been instrumental in increasing ACA enrollment to 24 million since their implementation in 2021, and they are central to the ongoing discussions.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump criticized the subsidies as a “windfall for Health Insurance Companies” and labeled them a “DISASTER for the American people.” He expressed a willingness to collaborate with both parties to resolve the issue once the government reopens.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of the president, emphasized that Trump’s healthcare proposal would not be introduced until federal funding is secured. “We’re not proposing it to the Senate right now,” Bessent stated, highlighting that negotiations will not commence until the government is operational again.
Meanwhile, Americans shopping for 2026 ACA health insurance plans may face a concerning increase in monthly premiums as pandemic-era subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year. On Friday, Republicans rejected a proposal by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for a vote to reopen the government in exchange for a one-year extension of tax credits that lower costs for ACA plans.
Democratic Senator Adam Schiff criticized Trump’s healthcare initiative, suggesting it aims to undermine the ACA by allowing insurance companies to deny coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions. “So the same insurance companies he’s railing against in those tweets, he is saying: ‘I’m going to give you more power to cancel people’s policies,’” Schiff remarked during an interview.
As the Senate prepares for its crucial vote, the nation watches closely, hoping for a resolution that will not only end the shutdown but also address the pressing healthcare concerns at the heart of this legislative battle.
