Agreement also sets December vote on Affordable Care Act legislation as economic pressure mounts.
🏛️ Breakthrough in Washington
After 40 days of gridlock, senators have reached a bipartisan agreement to fund the federal government through January 30, 2026, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. The deal, struck late Sunday, is designed to reopen shuttered agencies and restore pay to hundreds of thousands of federal workers who have been furloughed or working without compensation since October 1.
📜 Key Features of the Deal
- Short-term funding: The continuing resolution will keep the government operating until January 30.
- Healthcare vote: The agreement includes a commitment to hold a December vote on an Affordable Care Act (ACA) bill, a major Democratic priority.
- Shutdown relief: Federal employees are expected to receive back pay once the measure is enacted.
💰 Mounting Economic Costs
The shutdown has already inflicted tens of billions of dollars in losses across multiple sectors:
- Weekly losses: Economists estimate between $7–16 billion per week in lost output.
- Air travel: FAA-mandated flight reductions have caused thousands of cancellations and delays, costing airlines and airports hundreds of millions weekly.
- Food assistance: Millions of families face disruption to SNAP benefits, with states struggling to cover gaps.
- Federal workforce: More than 750,000 employees have missed paychecks, with ripple effects on consumer spending.
- Small business contracts: Firms dependent on federal projects report sharp declines in revenue.
🔑 What Comes Next
The Senate deal now moves to the House, where lawmakers are expected to vote within days. If passed, the measure would temporarily end the longest shutdown in U.S. history, but the reprieve is short-lived. With funding set to expire in late January, another showdown looms unless a broader budget agreement is reached.
In summary: The bipartisan Senate deal offers temporary relief by funding the government through January 30 and scheduling a December vote on the Affordable Care Act. While it may end the immediate crisis, the economic damage is already severe, and the prospect of renewed brinkmanship early next year remains.
Sources:
- Al Jazeera – U.S. government shutdown enters 40th day
- CBS News – Shutdown costing billions weekly
- Northern Trust – The cost of the U.S. shutdown
- ABC News – Shutdown impacts on food assistance
- Poynter – CBO estimates on shutdown costs
