Senate prepares vote to reopen US government after 40-day shutdown, combining short-term funding with healthcare subsidy negotiations
WASHINGTON: The US Senate is moving toward a vote to end the 40-day federal government shutdown.
Senators expect a Sunday night vote on advancing a House-passed bill that would fund the government through January 2026.
The amended package combines short-term funding with three full-year appropriations bills.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed the legislative approach.
The package must still pass the House of Representatives and receive President Donald Trump‘s signature.
This process could take several days to complete.
Senate Democrats had previously resisted funding measures to pressure Republicans on healthcare fixes.
The proposed deal includes a separate future vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal stated he would vote against the funding measure.
“I am unwilling to accept a vague promise of a vote at some indeterminate time,” Blumenthal told reporters.
The 40-day shutdown has sidelined federal workers and affected food aid, parks and travel.
Air traffic control staffing shortages threaten Thanksgiving holiday travel.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis said mounting shutdown effects pushed lawmakers toward agreement.
“Temperatures cool, the atmospheric pressure increases outside and all of a sudden it looks like things will come together,” Tillis told reporters.
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett warned of potential negative fourth-quarter growth.
The economic impact could worsen if air travel doesn’t normalize by Thanksgiving.
President Trump continued pushing to replace ACA subsidies with direct individual payments.
Trump called the subsidies a “windfall for Health Insurance Companies” on Truth Social.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said healthcare negotiations would wait until government reopening.
“We are not going to negotiate with the Democrats until they reopen the government,” Bessent stated.
Americans face more than doubled Obamacare premiums if subsidies expire.
Democratic Senator Adam Schiff accused Trump’s proposal of gutting ACA protections.
“He is saying: ‘I’m going to give you more power to cancel people’s policies,’” Schiff said. – Reuters
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