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Senate Nears Deal to Reopen Government as Key Votes Loom
Senate Democrats are signaling enough support for a revamped plan to reopen the government, sources tell Fox News Digital, raising the prospect of a vote as soon as Sunday night.
The new plan, outlined in an updated continuing resolution (CR), would reopen the government through Jan. 30, 2026, reverse the firings of furloughed workers carried out under President Donald Trump, and ensure that affected employees receive back pay. The bipartisan deal was spearheaded by Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, R-Maine, with crucial support from Democratic Senators Angus King, I-Maine, Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.
Senate Republicans are hoping that a newly unveiled package of spending bills could be the key to reopen the government. Senate Majority Leader John Thune plans to put the bill, and Democrats’ resolve, to the test. (Pete Kiehart/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Lawmakers are expected to hold the first of three votes on reopening the government Sunday night, though the House must also act before the shutdown officially ends.
Earlier, Senate Republicans unveiled another key element in their effort to restore government operations, planning a vote on Sunday. While differences remain—particularly over extending expiring Obamacare subsidies—appropriators moved forward with a package of spending bills intended to jumpstart government funding and end the 40-day shutdown.
Former Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.V., ripped Senate Minority Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in his memoir. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)
The Senate Appropriations Committee released a three-bill “minibus” package Sunday afternoon, covering military construction and the VA, the legislative branch, agriculture, and the Food and Drug Administration. Senate Republicans hope its largely bipartisan nature will attract enough Democratic support to break the deadlock. Lawmakers are still awaiting the updated CR text, which, if passed, would reopen the government through late January.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., emphasized that the bill will only reach the floor if there are enough votes to pass. “There’s going to be something to vote on, let’s put it that way,” Thune said, after weeks of challenging Democrats to oppose the original House-passed CR.
President Donald Trump waits for the arrival of Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese at the White House on October 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The package, however, does not resolve Democrats’ top priority: extending expiring Obamacare subsidies. Thune has promised Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., a vote on the subsidies after the government reopens, but Democrats have maintained that this is insufficient.
Democrats are expected to meet Saturday night to discuss the plan. If they agree, it would represent a significant shift from their previously entrenched position that contributed to the month-long shutdown. A vote in the Senate is expected Sunday evening.
The path forward remains complex. First, Thune plans to bring the House-passed CR to the floor, which would serve as the vehicle to attach the minibus and updated CR. Two more votes will follow before the Senate package can advance, and it will then return to the House before heading to President Trump’s desk.
Some procedural hurdles may still arise, and despite rumors of defections, not all Republicans are confident this process will be smooth. “I don’t expect anything from the Democrats,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla. “At this point, their demands have been so ridiculous, I don’t know what they’re going to do, and at this point, I frankly, don’t give a crap.”