Bipartisan Agreement Concludes 43-Day Government Shutdown, Delaying Healthcare Dispute

The U.S. House is preparing to vote on a cross-party agreement aimed at ending the 43-day government shutdown—the longest in recent memory—as lawmakers rush to prevent additional economic and bureaucratic consequences. The Senate approved a temporary funding measure on Monday evening, which is anticipated to pass in the Republican-controlled House despite Democratic concerns about the absence of healthcare subsidies. President Donald Trump described the bill as a "major win," but dissatisfaction persists among critics from both parties, according to

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The deal, negotiated by Senate Majority Leader John Thune and several centrist Democrats, features a "minibus" package containing three full-year appropriations bills to keep essential agencies funded through January 30, and also extends overall government funding to that date, as reported by

. Democrats managed to secure promises to bring back furloughed federal employees and avoid large-scale layoffs in the future, but were unable to obtain a full-year extension for Affordable Care Act tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Thune committed to a vote on the subsidies in mid-December, but there are no assurances, according to .

This compromise was reached after prolonged and difficult talks, with Republicans initially dismissing Democratic proposals to reopen the government in return for healthcare measures. Thune labeled those offers as "dead on arrival," insisting on prioritizing immediate funding needs over broader policy disputes, as reported by

. The agreement is seen as a practical solution to the impasse, though it has faced strong opposition from progressive Democrats, who argue that Senate leaders have given in to Republican demands.

Democratic leadership is dealing with internal criticism, especially directed at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has faced harsh rebukes from progressive groups and lawmakers for not achieving more substantial concessions. Organizations such as MoveOn and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee have called for Schumer to step down, characterizing the resolution as a "capitulation" to Republican obstinacy, according to

. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries came to Schumer's defense, describing his actions as a "brave effort," but admitted there is widespread frustration within the party, according to .

The shutdown has had significant economic repercussions, with the Congressional Budget Office projecting a 1.5 percentage point drop in annualized GDP growth by mid-November, according to

. Federal employees are still experiencing unpaid furloughs, military pay and benefits contingency funds are running low, and consumer confidence has fallen to its lowest point in three years amid rising uncertainty, as reported by . The shutdown has also disrupted vital programs like SNAP, with ongoing legal disputes over food assistance creating instability for 42 million Americans who depend on it, according to .

The approval of the resolution has sparked a rally in the markets, with

surpassing $106,000 and rising more than 7% as investors anticipate less political turmoil, according to . Still, the agreement’s limited scope—focused only on short-term funding—has left unresolved disputes between the parties, with both sides blaming each other for the crisis. A recent AP-NORC survey found that 60% of Americans place "a great deal" or "quite a bit" of responsibility on Trump and Republicans, while 54% feel similarly about Democrats, according to .

As the House prepares to meet again, Speaker Mike Johnson is under pressure to secure nearly unanimous Republican backing to ensure the bill’s passage, as only two defections can be afforded. The legislation will then go to Trump for his signature, potentially bringing the shutdown to a close before the November 15 deadline, according to

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