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Senate Leader Signals Potential Deal to End 40-Day Government Shutdown
A possible breakthrough to end the 40-day government shutdown emerged Sunday as Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced that a deal was “coming together,” though he cautioned that final agreement remained uncertain.
“We’ll see where the votes are,” Thune said as he opened a rare Sunday session in the Senate chamber, acknowledging that lawmakers still needed time to review the proposals before any action could be taken.
The shutdown, now in its sixth week, has severely disrupted air travel nationwide, threatened food assistance programs for millions of Americans, and left federal workers without paychecks since October 1.
Moderate Democrats have been working throughout the weekend with Republican leaders to craft a compromise package that would temporarily reopen government operations while providing full-year funding for several key agencies. The emerging deal would likely fund the government into January and potentially reverse some of the mass layoffs of federal workers implemented during the shutdown.
Central to the political impasse has been Democratic demands to extend enhanced health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act that are set to expire at year’s end. Without congressional action, premiums for approximately 24 million Americans enrolled in ACA health plans are projected to more than double in 2025.
Republicans have rejected previous Democratic offers to pair government funding with health care subsidy extensions. However, the current compromise being negotiated would reopen the government in exchange for a future vote on the health care subsidies, without guaranteeing their passage.
New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, leading negotiations among moderate Democrats, indicated this approach offered “another path forward” after Republicans immediately rejected Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer’s Friday proposal to reopen government and extend the subsidies for a year.
The package under discussion would fully fund several areas of government—including food aid programs, veterans services, and the legislative branch—while extending temporary funding for all other federal operations until late January. Notably, the legislation maintains a ban on congressional pay raises while boosting security funding for lawmakers by $203.5 million in response to increased threats.
Negotiators have also discussed provisions to reverse some of the Trump administration’s mass firings of federal workers since the shutdown began, though such measures could face resistance from the White House and House Republicans.
The political calculus remains delicate. Republicans need only five Democratic votes to pass a government funding measure in the Senate, making the small group of moderate Democrats crucial to any resolution. However, progressive Democrats have already criticized the potential compromise as an “unconditional surrender.”
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has encouraged his colleagues to continue fighting, pointing to recent Democratic election victories as evidence of “growing opposition to Trumpism and his efforts to decimate the already-broken American health care system.”
Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to commit to a future vote on extending the health care subsidies, creating additional uncertainty about the viability of any Senate compromise.
Former President Donald Trump has used the shutdown to renew his criticism of the Affordable Care Act, calling it “THE WORST HEALTHCARE FOR THE HIGHEST PRICE” in a social media post Sunday. Rather than seeking compromise, Trump has urged Republican leaders to eliminate the Senate’s filibuster rules—a suggestion party leadership has firmly rejected.
As negotiations continue, the shutdown’s consequences grow increasingly severe. U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,000 flights on Sunday—the highest number since the shutdown began—with over 7,000 additional flights delayed. Treasury Secretary Sean Duffy warned that without resolution, air travel ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday would be “reduced to a trickle.”
Food assistance programs remain in turmoil, with SNAP benefits caught in legal battles related to the shutdown. More than two dozen states have warned of “catastrophic operational disruptions” as the administration demands they “undo” benefits paid under court orders that were subsequently stayed by the Supreme Court.
In Washington, D.C., home to millions of federal workers who remain unpaid, the Capital Area Food Bank reports providing 8 million more meals than budgeted this year—a nearly 20% increase—highlighting the shutdown’s growing human toll as the political standoff continues.
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17 Comments
It’s encouraging to hear that a potential compromise deal is in the works to end the government shutdown. Even a temporary reopening would provide some much-needed relief. But as the article notes, there are no guarantees yet. I hope the leaders can put political differences aside and find a lasting solution.
The government shutdown has already caused significant disruptions, and a temporary deal to reopen while negotiations continue could be a pragmatic approach. However, Congress needs to find a more permanent solution that doesn’t continually put federal services and workers in jeopardy.
It’s concerning to hear about the severe disruptions the shutdown is causing, from air travel issues to food assistance programs being threatened. A temporary deal to reopen the government is better than the current impasse, but Congress needs to find a long-term solution.
I agree, the real-world impacts of the shutdown on ordinary citizens are very worrying. Hopefully this potential deal can at least provide some short-term relief while the parties work towards a more comprehensive resolution.
The government shutdown has had real consequences for millions of Americans, so any progress towards ending it is worth watching closely. However, the article’s caution about the uncertainty of a final deal is understandable. Partisan posturing has gone on too long – the public deserves stable governance.
The potential deal to end the shutdown is a positive sign, but as the article notes, there are still no guarantees. These prolonged political standoffs are frustrating for the American people. I hope the leaders can put politics aside and do what’s best for the country.
Exactly, the political posturing needs to stop. The public deserves a functioning government that can address the real issues affecting people’s lives.
The ongoing government shutdown has been incredibly disruptive, so a possible breakthrough deal is welcome news. However, the article rightly highlights the uncertainty around final agreement. I hope the parties can find common ground and put the interests of the American people first.
Interesting development on the government shutdown negotiations. It seems like a deal is in the works, but success is still uncertain. I hope they can find a compromise that works for both parties and gets the government fully operational again soon.
Agreed, the shutdown has been going on far too long and is causing real disruption. A temporary deal to reopen the government while negotiations continue could be a sensible approach.
The government shutdown has already caused significant disruptions, so any progress towards a deal to reopen is welcome news. However, as the article notes, final agreement is not yet guaranteed. I hope the political leaders can find a lasting solution that serves the interests of the American people.
While a potential deal to end the government shutdown is positive, the article’s cautious tone is understandable. After over a month of gridlock, the public deserves a resolution that puts their needs ahead of partisan posturing. I hope the leaders can find a balanced compromise that restores government services.
This news of a possible shutdown deal, even if not guaranteed, is a positive development. The prolonged gridlock has been incredibly frustrating for the public. I hope the parties can find a balanced compromise that gets the government running again and addresses the root causes of the dispute.
Kudos to the moderate Democrats and Republican leaders for working on a compromise deal to reopen the government. While the final outcome remains uncertain, any progress towards ending this damaging shutdown is welcome. The American people need a functioning government, not political theater.
While a potential deal to end the shutdown is welcome news, the article rightly points out that final agreement is still uncertain. Partisan politics have gone on long enough – the American people deserve a functioning government that can address the nation’s pressing issues.
A possible breakthrough in the shutdown impasse is good to hear, but the article’s cautious tone is understandable. After over a month of gridlock, the public deserves a resolution that puts their interests first, not partisan posturing. I hope the leaders can find common ground.
The details of the potential shutdown deal will be important to watch. While a temporary reopening could provide some relief, the underlying issues driving the impasse need to be resolved. I hope the leaders can put partisanship aside and focus on what’s best for the country.