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Government Shutdown Ends: January 30 Looms as Next Deadline

November 18, 2025 

After 43 days, the federal government reopened November 12, ending the longest shutdown in U.S. history. 

The deal funds most agencies via a continuing resolution through January 30, 2026 and provides full-year funding for the Department of Agriculture, the Veterans Administration, military construction, and the legislative branch. 

• It guarantees back pay for federal workers and reverses layoffs imposed during the shutdown.
• The National Flood Insurance Program, which had lapsed along with the government funding, was also extended.

What it doesn’t do: The policy fight that triggered the stalemate remains unresolved.

• The Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace subsidies expire at the end of this year and many enrollees are likely to see premium increases. 
• Senate Democrats secured a commitment from Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to vote on the issue in December, but that vote will likely fall short of the 60 vote threshold to advance the issue. It’s not even clear if a clean extension will garner a simple majority. 
• However, the shutdown has brought this issue front and center and is likely to have an effect on midterm campaigning for both parties in 2026.

The government is funded through January, 30, 2026, but Congress will need to fund the remainder of the agencies by then or pass another CR to keep it open. There is concern that another partial shutdown could happen unless the parties make progress on healthcare issues. 

By the numbers: Seven Democratic senators and one independent who caucuses with Democrats voted on November 10 with Republicans to re-open the government, with the bill passing by a vote of 60-40. The move has drawn sharp rebuke from some wings of the Democratic party.

• Two of the Democrats, Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) are retiring from Congress. The rest are not up for re-election until 2028 or beyond: John Fetterman (D-PA); Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV); Maggie Hassan (D-NH); Tim Kaine (D-VA); Jacky Rosen (D-NV); and Angus King (I-ME).
• The lone Republican exception was Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).

In the House, six Democrats voted with all but two Republicans to re-open the government on November 12. Only one of these members, Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME-2), has announced his retirement. 

• The remaining Democrats were Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-3); Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28); Rep. Adam Gray (D-CA-13); Rep. Don Davis (D-NC-1); and Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY-3).
• On the GOP side, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY-4) and Greg Steube (R-FL-17) joined with the rest of the Democrats and voted against re-opening the government.

Why it matters: Although the House Democrats who crossed the aisle are from swing or moderate districts, they will have to defend this vote to the Democratic base and potential primary challenges. However, some could also use the vote to their advantage, framing it as evidence of effective governance or alignment with key voter priorities, depending on the district’s political landscape.

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