Democrats fold on biggest government shutdown demand
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Sens. Angus King, Maggie Hassan, Catherine Cortez Masto, Jeanne Shaheen and Tim Kaine speak at a press conference on Nov. 9. Photo: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Moderate Senate Democrats moved to end the government shutdown on Sunday night, abandoning the party's 40-day standoff without much to show for it.
- Eight Senate Democrats broke ranks to advance a deal that reverses shutdown RIFs, funds the government until late January, promises a vote on Affordable Care Act tax credits and funds several agencies.
Why it matters: Democratic negotiators acknowledged that negotiations were going nowhere. In the end, fatigue and frustration triumphed over anger and anxiety at President Trump.
- "It wasn't working," Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), who caucuses with Senate Democrats, said of his effort to broker a compromise.
- "It's been six weeks. Republicans made it clear they weren't going to discuss the health care issue, the Affordable Care Act tax credits until the shutdown was over," he said.
- "After 40 long days, I'm hopeful that we can finally bring the shutdown to an end," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.).
The big picture: Democrats had sworn the shutdown would continue until Affordable Care Act tax credits were extended for 22 million people.
- As recently as Friday, Democrats said they'd end the shutdown in exchange for a one-year extension of the credits. But Sunday's deal was to hold a vote, not a guarantee it will pass.
- Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called the promise a "meaningless gesture" and predicted "the House is not going to take it up."
Between the lines: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) insisted Democrats gained ground on health care. He voted against the deal, along with every Democratic senator who will be facing voters in the 2026 midterms.
- "Health care costs made a major impact on the 2025 election, and they will certainly have an even greater impact on the 2026 election," Schumer said.
- The rest of his leadership team also voted against the deal, aside from retiring Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).
- That's a stark reversal from Democratic leaders' move last March to support a spending stopgap, which led to a meltdown from the Democratic grassroots.
Zoom in: Persistent conversations from a trio of former governors — King, Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) helped bring a deal to fruition. A promise from the White House to rehire federal workers also helped.
- The deal came together Sunday afternoon after weeks of talks between centrist Democrats, GOP interlocutors and Republican leaders.
- It was expected earlier in the week, but the Democrats' big electoral wins on Tuesday night (and those margins) reminded them of what victory tastes like — and they held out for more. There were also delays in writing legislation.
The bottom line: Federal workers will get paid, food assistance will flow and flights should resume normal schedules — just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.
- The immediate crisis is over, but the deep divisions in American politics will persist.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Sen. Angus King is from Maine (not Vermont).
