The Senate on Sunday November 9, 2025 voted to procedurally advance the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) to end the longest ever government shutdown.
When the CR itself is up for a Senate vote later this week, as part of an agreement among Senate negotiators, Senate Majority Leader Thune will offer a substitute to the House-passed CR.
The Senate substitute amendment would fund government programs through January 30, 2026, extend Medicare telehealth flexibilities through January 30, 2026, waive the 4% Medicare pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) cut from being implemented in calendar year 2026, fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through fiscal year 2026, and include three full-year appropriations bills (Agriculture, Military Construction-VA, and Legislative Branch).
In addition, the negotiated agreement includes back pay for federal workers furloughed during the shutdown and brings back all federal workers fired through reduction in force actions during the shutdown and also calls for a Senate vote on the extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies in December.
A Senate vote on the CR substitute amendment is expected later the week of November 10. After that, the legislation moves to the House for a vote, then, if passed, on to the President. It is possible, under this scenario, that the shutdown could end the week of November 10.
