11.10.25 - What’s in the government funding bill the Senate is moving, what isn’t, and what to watch next

All signs point to the longest government shutdown in history coming to an end this week. Here’s a quick rundown of where things stand, what to expect over the next few hours and days, what’s in the bill to reopen the government, and what’s not in it. 

About last night 

The Senate voted 60-40 last night to invoke cloture—a.k.a., end debate—and advance a funding package that will reopen the federal government. Eight senators in the Democratic caucus voted with Republicans to invoke cloture. 

The Senate must still vote on the underlying package itself. This was just the first procedural vote. However, this procedural vote was the big hurdle, as passing the package itself takes just a simple majority vote (51 out of 100 senators). Clearly, there is adequate support in the Senate to meet that bar. 

What happens next

In the Senate 

There are more procedural steps on the horizon, but those can be sped up. Under the Senate's rules, the chamber can only consider a bill for 30 more hours after cloture is invoked, unless there is a unanimous agreement among senators to vote sooner. No such agreement has been announced at the time of publication. 

I’d expect a final Senate vote late today (Monday, November 10) at the very earliest, or in the next couple days. Then, the package moves to the House. 

In the House 

After keeping House Members out of Washington for nearly two months, House Republican leaders have told their Members they’ll get 36 hours notice before a House vote. This tees up a House vote on the funding bill on Wednesday or Thursday at the earliest, depending on how timing shakes out in the Senate and assuming enough Members can get back to D.C. in that timeframe. The latter is far from guaranteed given widespread flight delays and cancellations that are poised to continue until the government reopens. 

Then there’s the House math. The Speaker claims he will finally seat Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) when the House returns, putting the House margins at 219 Republicans and 214 Democrats. Thus, Republicans can only afford to lose two GOP votes and still pass a bill without Democrats’ support. Two House Republicans opposed the GOP funding proposal in September: Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Victoria Spartz (R-IN). 

On the Democratic side, House leaders have signaled strong opposition to the Senate package, as have rank and file House Democrats across the ideological spectrum. However, that opposition may not be universal: one key Democrat has indicated that he supports the funding bill, and he may not be alone. Expect to see more signaling and speculating throughout the day. 

What does the funding bill do? 

Funds most federal agencies through January 30 and some through September 30 

Most federal agencies will be funded at current spending levels through the end of January, excluding the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), military construction projects, and the legislative branch. These agencies will receive new funding allocations through Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, which ends on September 30, 2026. 

Notably, this full-year funding package covers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Trump administration used the shutdown to cut off SNAP, jeopardizing food access for 40 million Americans who use that assistance to afford groceries. Without getting into the weeds, this full-year funding guarantee should insulate the program from this kind of weaponization should the government shut down again before September 30. 

On the legislative branch side, the package provides an extra $88 million for security for Members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, and other government officials. This has been top-of-mind for Members since Charlie Kirk’s killing in September. The package also sidesteps a massive GOP-backed funding cut to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a watchdog agency that previously dinged the Trump administration for blocking government funding for U.S. communities illegally. The bill also excludes Republican-proposed language to curtail GAO’s power. 

Provides backpay for federal workers and guards against mass firings 

Under this package, federal workers who were fired during the shutdown will be reinstated with backpay. Furloughed workers will also receive backpay. In addition, federal agencies are barred from enacting more layoffs while the bill is in effect (through January 30). 

Miscellaneous extensions 

The bill extends the National Flood Insurance Program, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, community health center funds, and other programs that had expired through January 30. 

What does the funding bill not do?

This bill does not avoid health care cuts

The package does not renew a program that helps Americans afford health insurance premiums, meaning the 20 million-plus Americans who receive tax credits to help them pay their premiums will see that help run out at the end of this year. As a result, the average individual who previously received premium assistance will pay more than $1,000 extra for the same coverage next year. 

The failure to avoid these cost increases could lead to many more Americans becoming uninsured. Thanks to the premium assistance program, the number of Americans enrolled in marketplace insurance more than doubled from 11.2 million in February 2021 to 23.4 million in February 2025. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities dives deeper into the implications of these looming cost increases here. 

The funding deal does promise a Senate vote on a Democratic bill to extend health care premium assistance before the end of 2025. However, this agreement does not promise GOP votes to ensure the bill passes, nor does it guarantee a House vote or the President’s signature. 

This bill does not prevent the White House from stealing from American communities 

Throughout this year, the Trump administration has ignored government funding laws, deciding unilaterally which legally-owed funds to withhold from communities. Republicans in Congress have, with few exceptions, yielded to the President rather than defend the laws they passed. As a result, the administration continues to owe communities more than $410 billion for VA hospitals, natural disaster relief, cancer screenings, road and bridge repairs, and much more.

In September, Democratic leaders proposed a funding bill that put guardrails in place to ensure the Trump administration follows the law and gets communities the federal funds they’re legally owed. This bill contains none of those guardrails—meaning, the President may continue to ignore funding agreements like this one and deny people crucial resources whenever he chooses. For more on this issue, check out Daniel Schuman’s First Branch Forecast.

If you’d like a live update for your group or coalition, reach out to catherine@webuildprogress.org. Thanks!