U.S. government shutdown: How Senate vote happened

Article content

The Republican-led U.S. Senate managed to wrangle just enough Democrats on Sunday night to pass a procedural vote that will allow a debate for the government funding bill — a development designed to eventually end the longest shutdown in the country’s history.

Article content

However, the stopgap proposal would only fund the government and benefits until late January.

Article content

Article content

To get to the 60-vote threshold, enough moderate Democrats and an independent senator voted with Republicans to move legislation forward.

The shutdown entered its 41st day on Monday, affecting more than 1 million government employees, who have either not been paid or have been furloughed; cancelled or delayed flights within the U.S.; and left millions in the country without food aid.

Even if the shutdown ends this week, chaos at the airports will continue due to a shortage of air traffic controllers.

The end of the shutdown could still be several days away if the rest of the Democrats slow the process down by objecting the bill.

Article content

Article content

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

What’s in the bill?

Reports suggest the agreement includes bipartisan bills to fund food aid in the form of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), veterans programs and the legislative branch.

Federal workers who had received layoff notices on Oct. 1 would also be reinstated while others would get backpay for doing unpaid but necessary work.

The bill would also protect against future government staff reductions through January.

No official details have been released by either party.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

What’s not in the bill?

Health care subsidies to fund the Affordable Care Act into 2026.

After the shutdown began, Senate Democrats voted 14 straight times not to open the government and demanded an extension of tax credits that make health coverage more affordable for millions of Americans.

Article content

Republicans maintained they would not negotiate funding health coverage in the bill until after the shutdown ended.

There is no guarantee that a bill will be negotiated with bipartisan approval to extend Affordable Care Act credits past Jan. 1.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

Which Democrats voted for the bill?

A yes vote on the procedural move included New Hampshire senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan; Virginia’s Tim Kaine; Illinois’ Dick Durbin; Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman; and Nevada senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen

Independent Senator Angus King of Maine, who caucuses with Democrats, also voted in the affirmative.

While Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York voted no, critics lashed out at his leadership after the party fought hard against the Republicans for weeks to make health care more affordable.

Article content

“Sen. Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced,” California Democrat Ro Khanna wrote on X. “If you can’t lead the fight to stop health-care premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom also took a shot at Democratic leadership without mentioning Schumer’s name.

“(Sunday’s) Senate vote on the federal government shutdown should have been a time for strength,” Newsom wrote on X.

“Instead we saw capitulation and a betrayal of working Americans. The American people need more from their leaders.”

What happens next?

Any future votes on the funding bill in the Senate need only a simple majority, which the Republicans have.

Once it is approved in the Senate, the House of Representatives would need to pass the legislation before it is sent to the desk of President Donald Trump for his signature.

Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday that all House lawmakers should start returning to Washington immediately.

“We have to do this as quickly as possible,” Johnson said at a news conference Monday morning.

The House has not been in session since mid-September.

Article content