On Day 42 of the U.S. government shutdown, the Senate approved a spending package in a 60-40 vote on Monday, sending the measure to the House as lawmakers race to restore federal funding. The package would extend most agency funding through Jan. 30 and includes three full-year appropriations bills for select programs; if the House passes it and the president signs, the shutdown would end. House leaders have signaled a rapid return to Washington, with the Rules Committee scheduling consideration and votes possible as soon as Wednesday afternoon. The pause in regular federal operations has already produced measurable effects on air travel, military families and congressional security planning.
Key Takeaways
- The Senate approved the funding package 60-40 on Monday, moving the bill to the House for final consideration as early as Wednesday.
- The legislation would extend most government funding until Jan. 30 and contains three full-year appropriations measures for specific agencies.
- House Rules Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. ahead of expected floor votes; the House has been out of session since Sept. 19.
- The package allocates $3.5 billion for congressional operations through Sept. 2026, including $203.5 million specifically to bolster lawmaker security.
- A provision allows senators to sue federal agencies for unauthorized data seizures with potential damages of $500,000 per violation, covering incidents after Jan. 2022.
- Airlines were expected to cancel roughly 6% of flights at 40 of the busiest U.S. airports to comply with an FAA staffing order.
- Air traffic controllers missed a second full paycheck; Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said controllers could receive about 70% of owed pay within 48 hours after the shutdown ends.
Background
The shutdown marks the longest lapse in appropriations in U.S. history, stretching into its sixth week as of Nov. 11, 2025. It began after the continuing resolution passed on Sept. 19 expired and negotiations failed to produce a compromise acceptable to a working majority in both chambers. The impasse has exposed tensions between House Republican priorities, Senate dynamics and a small group of bipartisan senators whose votes were pivotal to advancing the current package.
Federal agencies have been operating with furloughs and limited staffing for weeks, prompting operational disruptions in aviation, benefits processing and other public services. The political stakes are heightened by a mix of appropriations language—stopgap funding through late January combined with a few full-year bills—and new oversight and security provisions aimed at addressing lawmakers’ immediate concerns. Veteran and military-family service organizations have repeatedly urged a resolution as benefits and support services face strain.
Main Event
Senators voted 60-40 to pass the funding package on Monday, with eight Democrats crossing party lines to join most Republicans. The procedural advance followed intensive negotiations and pressure from both chambers to prevent further economic and operational harm from the shutdown. With the Senate’s passage, leadership in the House set a Rules Committee meeting for 6:30 p.m. and signaled expectation of swift floor consideration when members return to Washington.
House Speaker Mike Johnson instructed members to return as travel delays tied to Veterans Day complicate travel plans; the House has not been in session since Sept. 19. Democrats will add a newly elected member, Adelita Grijalva of Arizona, who is to be sworn in when the House reconvenes and is expected to participate in the votes on the package. House GOP leaders have expressed confidence the measure will pass the lower chamber.
The bill contains several notable provisions beyond short-term funding: a $3.5 billion allocation for congressional operations through September 2026, an explicit boost of $203.5 million to strengthen security for lawmakers, guidance on notifications to Senate offices when federal agents request their data, and other targeted spending items. The legislation also stipulates notification requirements and potential civil remedies for senators whose data were seized or subpoenaed without notice.
Analysis & Implications
Ending the shutdown quickly would halt the immediate economic and personal harms tied to unpaid federal workers and curtailed services, but the stopgap nature of the measure means budget fights will resume in January. Extending funding only until Jan. 30 preserves leverage for both parties to press priorities in the next funding round, while the inclusion of three full-year bills signals targeted concessions that could reduce friction on certain agency budgets.
The $3.5 billion congressional operations package and the $203.5 million security allocation reflect growing concern among lawmakers about personal and institutional security after high-profile threats and incidents. Providing additional funds for the U.S. Capitol Police and sergeants at arms aims to address immediate gaps, but it may also fuel a larger discussion about long-term security funding and civil liberties safeguards.
The data-notice and civil-remedy provision allowing senators to seek $500,000 per violation has political and legal ramifications. It appears tailored to address Republican concerns about investigative steps taken during prior probes, and it raises questions about separation-of-powers tensions and law-enforcement confidentiality. If enacted, the clause could prompt litigation and force agencies to reassess notification practices, with downstream effects on investigative tools and interbranch relations.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Senate vote | 60-40 |
| Shutdown duration (as of Nov. 11, 2025) | 42 days |
| Short-term funding expiration | Jan. 30, 2026 |
| Congressional operations total | $3.5 billion (through Sept. 2026) |
| Security boost for lawmakers | $203.5 million |
| U.S. Capitol Police allocation | $852.2 million |
| Per-senator office security allotment | $750,000 (additional) |
| FAA flight cancellations | ~6% at 40 busiest airports |
The table summarizes key numeric elements of the agreement and immediate operational impacts reported as of Nov. 11. Those figures illustrate both the limited horizon of the funding extension and the unusually large line items directed at legislators’ security and the Capitol’s protection. The FAA staffing-driven flight cuts reflect real-time operational constraints in aviation during the shutdown.
Reactions & Quotes
Senate supporters framed the vote as a pragmatic step to restore services while keeping longer-term negotiations open.
“We took a necessary step to reopen the government and buy time for more thoughtful negotiations,”
Senate Republican negotiator (statement)
Opponents and some rank-and-file Democrats voiced frustration that the package leaves unmet priorities and places the onus on future talks.
“This bill does not solve affordability challenges for many Americans and only delays real answers,”
Representative Adelita Grijalva (incoming member)
Transportation and aviation officials emphasized the human costs for frontline workers such as air traffic controllers who have missed paychecks.
“Controllers should see a meaningful portion of their back pay quickly — ideally within 48 hours of reopening,”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy (remarks)
Unconfirmed
- Whether all affected air traffic controllers will receive precisely 70% of back pay within 48 hours is subject to administrative implementation and has not been formally verified.
- The practical scope and successful enforcement of the $500,000 civil remedy for senators will depend on forthcoming legal challenges and judicial interpretation.
- Specific timing for the House floor votes — including whether voting will begin exactly at 4 p.m. Wednesday — could shift based on procedural steps or travel constraints.
Bottom Line
The Senate’s 60-40 approval sends a narrowly crafted package to the House that, if passed and signed, would end a 42-day shutdown while deferring many budget battles to January. The approach balances urgent operational fixes—back pay for furloughed workers, temporary funding—and politically charged provisions addressing congressional security and data-notice rights for senators.
Even if the House approves the measure swiftly, the temporary nature of the extension means contentious funding debates will re-emerge early next year. For now, the immediate priority for affected federal workers, travelers and veterans is a prompt vote and presidential signature to restore pay and services; the broader policy disputes will resume once appropriations negotiations reopen in earnest.
Sources
- CBS News live updates — media
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) — U.S. federal agency (operational guidance)
- U.S. Senate — official governmental body (vote records and legislative text)