The U.S. Senate voted 60–40 on Saturday to advance a stopgap funding bill aimed at reopening the federal government and keeping it operational through January 30, 2026, ending a historic 41-day shutdown that has disrupted public services and sidelined nearly 800,000 workers.
? BREAKING: Senate passes bill to end 41-day govt shutdown! Funds thru Jan 30, no ACA extension. Bipartisan vote 60-40 w/ Dem defectors. Now to House—Speaker Johnson calls members back to DC for quick vote. Then Pres Trump signs. Relief for workers & services! ❤️ like & follow… pic.twitter.com/3EYThPkczw
— Invest Alpha Pro (@JrSydrick) November 11, 2025
The measure, known as H.R. 5371, had already cleared the House earlier in the week and required bipartisan cooperation in the Senate to overcome a Democratic filibuster. The bill now heads toward a final vote in the upper chamber before being sent to President Biden for signature.
Bipartisan Cooperation Breaks Filibuster
Several Democratic moderates joined forces with Republicans, including Independent Senator Angus King of Maine , to break the procedural blockade that had stalled the government funding process.
The vote exposed growing divisions within the Democratic Party, with progressive members pushing for expanded healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), while moderates prioritized ending the shutdown swiftly to minimize economic damage.
Republican Senate Minority Whip John Thune reportedly secured the 60th vote on the 15th procedural attempt, underscoring the difficulty of achieving consensus in a sharply divided Senate.
According to negotiators, the final compromise hinged on an agreement to hold a separate vote on ACA subsidy extensions by December 31, a move seen as a pragmatic solution to break the deadlock.
ACA Subsidies at the Center of the Standoff
While the temporary funding bill does not include provisions to extend ACA premium subsidies, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the exclusion, arguing that the decision “holds Americans hostage over healthcare costs.”
Senator King defended the compromise, calling it a “realistic path forward” that would allow the government to reopen while leaving room for targeted healthcare negotiations before year-end.
Unlike previous stopgap bills, H.R. 5371 includes a framework for a full-year budget proposal, designed to reduce the recurrence of government shutdowns and provide agencies with longer-term funding stability.
Government Services Set to Resume
Once the bill passes its final Senate vote and receives the President’s signature, approximately 800,000 furloughed federal employees will return to work, and essential services , including passport processing, federal courts, and national parks , are expected to restart in phases over the coming week.
The prolonged shutdown has injected uncertainty into financial markets, prompting investors to look for hedges against government-linked volatility.
Bitcoin and Ethereum Gain Attention Amid Fiscal Uncertainty
During the shutdown, Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) both saw renewed investor interest as traders sought assets perceived to be less exposed to U.S. fiscal and monetary policy.
Analysts, however, caution that cryptocurrencies remain highly volatile and subject to regulatory risk, urging investors to approach the sector with measured strategies.
The broader market remains focused on whether Congress can sustain bipartisan cooperation through December, a test that could determine fiscal stability heading into 2026.
