Senate Passes Bill to End 41-Day Government Shutdown, House Vote Next
Direct answer
The US Senate has passed a bill to reopen the federal government. Senators voted 60-40 on November 9, 2026, to approve a funding package that ends the 41-day shutdown, the longest in US history. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives, which is expected to vote on Wednesday, November 11. The government stays closed until the House passes the bill and the president signs it.
What happened
The Senate vote was the final step in the Senate. It came after senators voted 60-40 on Sunday night to advance the deal, and our earlier report on the Senate vote to advance the deal explains that first step. Eight members of the Democratic caucus joined Republicans to pass the package.
The bill funds most of the government through January 30. It also includes three full-year spending bills for Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and the Legislative Branch, funded through September 30, 2026. Those bills fully fund food aid under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, and the food program for women, infants, and children, known as WIC.
The package guarantees back pay for all federal workers, including those who kept working without pay and those who were furloughed. It also reinstates workers who were fired during the shutdown and bars agencies from cutting more jobs through January 30.
The deal does not extend the enhanced tax credits that lower health insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act. Those credits expire at the end of the year. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has promised a separate Senate vote on extending them in December, with no guaranteed result.
President Donald Trump has said he supports the bill. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he expects the House to pass it quickly. The House has not been in session since September 19, and members are returning to Washington for the vote.
Why it matters for beginners
A shutdown is not an abstract fight in Washington. It has meant federal workers going without pay, disruption to food aid, and flight cuts at busy airports. Our earlier report on the FAA flight cuts at 40 airports explains how the shutdown reached ordinary travellers. The flight limits stay in place while the shutdown continues, and they should lift once Congress funds the government again.
The shutdown has also delayed official economic data. When the government stops publishing jobs and inflation reports, markets have less information to work with, and that uncertainty can move prices. US stocks rose sharply on Monday as investors welcomed the progress toward reopening, and Reuters reported that all 11 major S&P 500 sectors rose on the day.
For households, the clearest change is that help is now close. Federal workers will get their missed pay, food aid funding is secured, and the delayed economic reports, including the October consumer price report due on Tuesday, November 10, can resume once agencies reopen.
What to watch next
Watch the House vote on Wednesday, November 11, and then the president’s signature. Even after that, reopening the government is expected to take several days, so watch when federal workers receive their back pay and when flight schedules return to normal. Watch the promised December vote on health insurance subsidies, and what it decides. Watch for delayed economic data to resume, starting with the October consumer price report due on Tuesday, November 10.
Frequently asked questions
Does this end the shutdown right away?
No. The House must still pass the bill and the president must sign it. Reopening federal agencies is then expected to take several days.
What is in the funding bill?
The bill funds most of the government through January 30, and it fully funds Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, the Food and Drug Administration, military construction, and the Legislative Branch through September 30, 2026. It fully funds SNAP food aid and the WIC food program.
Will federal workers get their missed pay?
Yes. The bill guarantees back pay for all federal workers, including those who kept working without pay and those who were furloughed. It also reinstates workers who were fired during the shutdown.
What happens to health insurance subsidies?
The enhanced tax credits that lower monthly premiums under the Affordable Care Act are not extended by this bill. They expire at the end of the year unless Congress acts, and the deal promises a Senate vote on an extension in December.
When will flights return to normal?
The FAA flight cuts stay in place while the shutdown continues and should lift once Congress funds the government again, but airline schedules take time to recover, so some disruption may linger for days.
Sources
U.S. Senate, Senator Susan Collins, “Senate Passes Legislation to Reopen Government”, November 9, 2026. https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-passes-legislation-to-reopen-government-championed-by-senator-collins
Reuters, “Wall St jumps back as oil slide eases inflation worries; Nvidia slumps”, November 9, 2026. https://www.kitco.com/news/off-the-wire/2026-11-09/wall-st-jumps-back-oil-slide-eases-inflation-worries-nvidia-slumps
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
