A central point of contention throughout negotiations was the future of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, set to expire on Dec. 31. While the current package does not extend the subsidies, it contains a written guarantee from Senate Republican leaders that a stand-alone vote on their renewal will take place in December. More than 20 million Americans use the credits to reduce monthly insurance premiums purchased on ACA marketplaces, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Speaker Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, has not committed to supporting that separate vote, telling reporters Monday that he is “not committing to it or not committing to it.” During a conference call with GOP members, Johnson indicated he hopes to hold the floor vote on the Senate bill as early as Wednesday and promised at least 36 hours’ notice before ballots are cast. He also warned colleagues to expect “long days and long nights” as Congress works to make up for legislative time lost during the shutdown.
The Senate action follows a procedural vote Sunday that advanced the compromise package, marking the first significant progress since talks began in early October. Prior to Monday’s passage, the House had been out of session for several weeks after adopting a short-term continuing resolution in late September that funded the government only through mid-November.
Key components of the agreement include:
- Appropriations to keep federal agencies open through Jan. 31.
- Mandatory payment of wages missed during the shutdown to all furloughed federal employees, as required by a 2019 statute mandating retroactive pay once funding is restored.
- Budget reforms aimed at encouraging a full-year appropriations process rather than repeated stop-gap bills.
- Funding for SNAP through September, ensuring continued nutrition assistance for roughly 42 million participants.
The current shutdown, which began after funding lapsed at midnight on Oct. 1, reached 41 days on Nov. 10, surpassing the 35-day closure that occurred in 2018-2019. Numerous federal services have been curtailed, national parks have operated with minimal staffing, and economic analysts have warned of potential impacts on fourth-quarter growth should the impasse continue.
Attention now shifts to the House, where passage is necessary before the measure can advance to the White House. While House Democratic leaders have broadly endorsed the Senate package, several have emphasized the importance of following through on the promised December vote regarding ACA subsidies. Any changes made by the House would require the bill to return to the Senate, potentially delaying final enactment.
If approved without amendments, the legislation would be sent directly to President Trump for signature, allowing federal departments to resume full operations and employees to receive back pay. The Office of Management and Budget is prepared to issue guidance to agencies immediately after the bill becomes law, enabling a rapid restart of government functions.
Lawmakers on both sides have acknowledged that the agreement addresses only near-term funding and that broader fiscal negotiations will be necessary to avert another shutdown when the new deadline arrives at the end of January. Discussions on the fiscal 2027 budget framework, mandatory spending reforms and potential health-care provisions are expected to begin soon after Congress resolves the current impasse.
Crédito da imagem: Saul Loeb / AFP / Getty Images
