Big weekend steps taken to try to end the government shutdown

The U.S. Senate took a key first step Sunday to end the six-week government shutdown, though major disagreements remain over health care subsidies.

In a procedural vote, the Senate approved 60-40 to advance a bipartisan deal funding the government through late January. The measure allows a later vote on extending enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits set to expire January 1st.

Three former governors — Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, and Independent Angus King of Maine — led the push, joined by Democratic Senators Tim Kaine, Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, and Jacky Rosen. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and most of his colleagues opposed the move, citing the lack of guaranteed health care subsidies.

The agreement includes three annual spending bills and keeps the rest of the government funded through January. It reverses mass federal worker layoffs issued since the shutdown began on October 1st and guarantees back pay for furloughed employees. It also reimburses states that spent their own funds to keep programs running during the shutdown.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has not committed to bringing the health care subsidies portion to a vote, leaving final passage uncertain. Meanwhile, President Trump said Sunday evening that the government shutdown could soon end but continued to criticize the Affordable Care Act.

The shutdown has already disrupted airlines, with more than 2,000 flights canceled and 7,000 delayed on Sunday alone, and delayed food aid for millions of Americans reliant on SNAP benefits.

Lawmakers now have more than two months to negotiate additional spending bills and address the expiring health care subsidies.