Capitol in search of a way out: a rupture in the prolonged calm
10 november 2025 в 17:13
With the federal government in its 40th day of shutdown, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are trying to find a way forward after a late procedural vote in the US Senate signaled a rare breakthrough in the deadlock. A small group of Senate Democrats joined Republicans to advance temporary funding — the first serious step towards resuming normal government operations, but deep disagreements remain on key political issues and the possibility of a quick resolution to the funding fight.
The current government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, after Congress failed to pass new funding before the start of the fiscal year. As of November 10, the shutdown has lasted 40 days, making it the longest in US history. Essential services continue to operate, but hundreds of thousands of federal workers are facing furloughs, missed paychecks, and serious disruptions to major government programs.
No — the government has not fully reopened yet. On November 9, the Senate held a key procedural vote and approved a compromise funding bill with a vote of 60−40, moving it forward in the legislative process. This vote was the first serious step towards ending the shutdown, but agencies will remain closed until the full bill passes both houses of Congress and is signed by President Donald Trump.
There is no clear date for the government to reopen, but lawmakers say a new Senate agreement could end the shutdown in the coming days if all goes smoothly. The proposal would fund the government until January 30, and some agencies would receive funding for a full year. For the shutdown to officially end, the House must pass the same bill, and President Trump must sign it — steps that could happen quickly, but are not guaranteed due to ongoing fights over healthcare subsidies and spending priorities.
They argued that ending the shutdown and restoring payments to federal workers should be the top priority, although the deal does not include an immediate extension of subsidies under the Affordable Care Act and has divided Democrats
The current government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, after Congress failed to pass new funding before the start of the fiscal year. As of November 10, the shutdown has lasted 40 days, making it the longest in US history. Essential services continue to operate, but hundreds of thousands of federal workers are facing furloughs, missed paychecks, and serious disruptions to major government programs.
No — the government has not fully reopened yet. On November 9, the Senate held a key procedural vote and approved a compromise funding bill with a vote of 60−40, moving it forward in the legislative process. This vote was the first serious step towards ending the shutdown, but agencies will remain closed until the full bill passes both houses of Congress and is signed by President Donald Trump.
There is no clear date for the government to reopen, but lawmakers say a new Senate agreement could end the shutdown in the coming days if all goes smoothly. The proposal would fund the government until January 30, and some agencies would receive funding for a full year. For the shutdown to officially end, the House must pass the same bill, and President Trump must sign it — steps that could happen quickly, but are not guaranteed due to ongoing fights over healthcare subsidies and spending priorities.
They argued that ending the shutdown and restoring payments to federal workers should be the top priority, although the deal does not include an immediate extension of subsidies under the Affordable Care Act and has divided Democrats
© Kolganov Andrey
