This week the longest federal government shut down (43 days) ended with a bi-partisan Senate deal to re-open the government. On Monday, the Senate passed a stopgap funding bill keeping the government open through January 30, combined with a three-bill minibus funding FY2026 programs for three appropriations bills: Military Construction/Veterans Affairs, Agriculture/FDA, and the Legislative Branch.  The remaining nine appropriations bills (including Labor, Health and Human Services, LHHS) are funded through the Continuing Resolution (CR) through January 30. The package also includes reversal of federal layoffs made during the shutdown and a ban on additional federal workforce firings through January 30 and restores back pay to furloughed and fired federal employees.

The Senate voted 60–40 to pass this measure with Senators Kaine (D-VA), Shaheen (D-NH), Hassan (D-NH), Rosen (D-NV), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Durbin (D-IL), Fetterman (D-PA), and King (I-ME) voting with the Republican majority. Republican Senator Paul (KY) voted in opposition.

This deal included no extension of the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Majority Leader Thune (R-SD) pledged to hold a vote in the Senate on extending these tax credits by mid-December.

After a 53-day recess, the House re-convened this week and passed the package, by a vote of 222-209. Six moderate Democrats (Representatives Cuellar [TX], Gluesenkamp Perez [WA], Davis [NC], Suozzi [NY], Gray [CA], and Golden [ME]) voted yes; two Republicans (Massie [KY], Steube [FL]) voted no. Two members (McCaul [TX], Watson Coleman [NJ]) were absent. The President signed it soon thereafter, and the federal government was open on Thursday.

Congress still has a lot of legislating ahead of it this year. To stay up to speed on these activities and more, be sure to join PriorityONE and our weekly live virtual briefings, held on Thursdays from 12-12:30 pm ET.