U.S. Senate deal puts govt. closer to ending record shutdown
INTERNATIONAL – USA
11 NOVEMBER 2025
- The U.S. Senate took a major step toward ending the longest government shutdown in American history when it cleared the way for a formal debate on a motion to resume funding to federal agencies.
- The development represents significant progress toward ending a government shutdown that has dragged on for over 40 days, halted funding to federal programs and disrupted air travel and other essential industries.
- The breakthrough came after Republican and Democratic lawmakers reached a stopgap agreement to fund the government through January 2026, after wrangling over healthcare subsidies, food benefits and Trump’s firings of federal employees.
- Following the deal, the Republican-led chamber approved a procedural vote by 60 votes to 40, putting a hard limit on how much longer senators can discuss the legislative measure.
- It will still need approval from the Republican-controlled House of Representatives before it lands on President Donald Trump’s desk—a process which could take days.
- The Republican Party retains control of the House of Representatives, holding 219 seats while the Democrats have 213. Three seats remain vacant.
- The Republican Party also has the majority in the Senate with 53 seats to the Democrats’ 47 seats, including two independents who caucus with Democrats.
- The Republicans do not have the 60 votes needed to advance bills in the Senate.
- A 60-vote supermajority in the Senate is required to end debate on a bill and move to a final vote, a process known as overcoming a filibuster.
- Filibuster is procedural tactic that allows a single senator or a group of senators to delay or block a vote on a bill, by extending debate indefinitely.
