On November 10, 2025, Senate Republicans along with eight Democratic Senators began the process of reopening the government by passing a continuing resolution (CR) that would extend federal funding for most of the government through January 30, 2026. The measure further includes full fiscal year (FY) 2026 funding for the Agriculture-FDA, Military Construction-VA, and Legislative Branch appropriations bills. The House is expected to vote as early as Wednesday, setting the stage to re-open the government by the end of the week. With only a two-vote majority and two Republicans having opposed the previous CR in September, House Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-04) faces a narrow, but likely, path to securing passage.

 

The bill includes a provision to rehire federal employees terminated during the shutdown through the Trump Administration’s reduction-in-force (RIF) actions and guarantees back pay for all federal workers. The package does not include an extension of enhanced premium tax credits (EPTCs) used to purchase health care on the Affordable Care Act marketplace – as initially demanded by Democrats – which are set to expire on December 31, 2025, though Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has reportedly pledged to allow a vote on an extension of EPTCs by mid-December. Additionally, this package waives Statutory PAYGO, preventing the four percent Medicare sequestration set to take effect in 2026, and extends expiring health provisions through January 30, 2026, retroactive to October 1, 2025.