After more than a month of halted federal services and unpaid workers, a group of Democratic senators and one independent have helped pass the Government Shutdown Deal. Their support ended the nation’s longest shutdown and opened the way for a new debate on Affordable Care Act subsidies. The group said the agreement, while not perfect, was the best option to relieve pressure on millions of Americans affected by the standoff. They stressed that federal employees, air traffic controllers, and families relying on government programs could not wait any longer for relief.
Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, a veteran Democrat retiring at the end of his term, broke ranks with party leaders to back the deal. He said it was not flawless but was necessary to ease the pain caused by the shutdown. Durbin pointed to the hardships faced by federal workers during the 40-day closure, the longest in U.S. history. He noted that air traffic controllers worked long hours without pay, keeping the skies safe under heavy stress. “This bill is not perfect, but it takes important steps to reduce the shutdown’s hurt,” he said.
Independent Senator Angus King of Maine, who caucuses with Democrats, also voted for the deal. King explained that the ongoing shutdown had caused real harm to families and businesses and warned that extending it would not make health care reforms more likely. He said the new agreement at least guaranteed a vote on Affordable Care Act subsidies while helping people who were suffering.
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine said his vote aimed to protect both the federal workforce and families struggling with health care costs. His state has around 300,000 federal employees, many of whom were directly affected by the shutdown. Kaine said the deal guarantees a vote to extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and ensures that federal workers receive back pay. He added that protecting public servants and stabilizing health insurance coverage must remain top priorities.
Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, elected in 2022, also backed the bill. He said the shutdown had gone on long enough and warned that continuing it would bring only more disruption. Fetterman said the party risked overplaying its hand and that little had been accomplished in the past 40 days except chaos and confusion.
New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who will not seek reelection, said waiting longer would only deepen the pain Americans were feeling. She explained that she had worked for years to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits and believed the issue should be handled through regular negotiations, not a shutdown fight.
Her colleague from New Hampshire, Senator Maggie Hassan, also supported the deal. She said she had heard from residents facing higher health care costs and others hurt by the shutdown. Hassan noted that Congress now has one month to engage in bipartisan talks to extend the expiring ACA tax credits that help families afford insurance.
Nevada Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen joined in supporting the agreement. Cortez Masto said she had seen food bank lines in her state that resembled those from the pandemic. “Too many Americans, seniors, and children were suffering,” she said, adding that reopening the government was necessary to begin solving the health care crisis. Rosen agreed, saying that restoring government operations was key to rebuilding stability in communities.
Not all Democrats supported the plan. Members of the progressive wing opposed it, arguing that it failed to protect access to health care and favored wealthy interests. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders said he voted against the measure because it could raise premiums for millions and remove coverage for others. Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego also opposed the deal, saying health care should remain a right for every family.
Despite internal disagreement, the measure passed and ended the shutdown that had paralyzed government operations for more than a month. Lawmakers now face the task of negotiating new funding measures and ensuring that the Affordable Care Act’s tax credits remain in place for Americans who depend on them.
