This story has been updated with more information.
The U.S. Senate took a big first step on Sunday, Nov. 9, towards ending the still-ongoing longest U.S. government shutdown in history.
Pressure for Congress to act has only increased throughout the shutdown, as Americans feel more and more effects, from halted food assistance programs to thousands of canceled flights only weeks before Thanksgiving.
On Day 40 of the shutdown, the Senate voted 60-40 to advance a deal to reopen the government through the end of January 2026, after a group of eight Senate Democrats broke party ranks to strike a deal with congressional Republicans.
The action puts the shutdown on track to potentially end this week, but a final vote is still required by the Senate and then the House before the continuing resolution heads to President Donald Trump’s desk. Here’s what else we know about next steps and more.
When will the 2025 government shutdown end? Senate takes steps
The deal negotiated by Republican leaders and the eight Democrats reverses federal layoffs, promises a vote in the future on expiring Obamacare subsidies, and fully reopens the government through Jan. 30, 2026.
Despite the deal marking a turning point in the record-breaking government shutdown that left millions of Americans unable to travel, afford food and more, the agreement has drawn criticism from many Democrats as it does not guarantee the extension of health care subsidies.
The subsidies in question are set to expire at the end of the year, sending health care premiums skyrocketing for millions of Americans.
USA TODAY noted several dates to keep an eye on in the ongoing shutdown:
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This week: Proposals to reopen the government will start to work their way through both chambers of Congress.
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Thanksgiving: Congressional leaders have indicated the shutdown will be over by the holiday. Sunday’s agreement made that assertion much more likely.
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Second week of December: The Senate will hold a vote on extending expiring Obamacare subsidies. It’s unclear if such a measure would pass.
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Jan. 30, 2026: The short-term funding measure lawmakers plan to pass this week would turn the government’s lights back on until Jan. 30, 2026. If more full-year appropriations bills aren’t passed by then, the government could shut down again, though only partially.
An end to the goverment shutdown?: Senate takes a first big step to end government shutdown
When will the Senate vote again?
The Senate returned Monday, Nov. 10, at 11 a.m. ET to take procedural votes on the agreed-upon deal to end the shutdown. However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said it “remains to be seen” when the Senate will vote on the final passage, telling reporters late Sunday, “it’ll take some cooperation and consent” from all parties.
Next, the House will have to return and adopt the deal before it gets sent to Trump’s desk.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) speaks with reporters outside the Senate Chamber after the vote on the 40th day of the partial government shutdown, in Washington, D.C., Nov. 9, 2025.
FAA cuts update: Are more flights going to be canceled?
Amidst ongoing Federal Aviation Administration cuts, Sunday, Nov. 9, was recorded as the single worst day for flight disruptions since the shutdown began.
According to previous USA TODAY reporting, the FAA is 1,000 to 2,000 controllers short of full staffing. The FAA previously said it had staffing issues at 12 control towers in the U.S.
By late night on Nov. 9, more than 10,000 flights within, into, or out of the United States had been delayed, according to FlightAware, with over 2,800 flights canceled for Monday, Nov. 10.
Who was hit with FAA cuts? FAA to cancel flights, aims for 10% cuts. Will Asheville Regional Airport be affected?
When will SNAP benefits resume?
SNAP, which was called “the nation’s most important and effective anti-hunger program” by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, helps 12% of U.S. residents afford essential groceries. This number includes 1.4 million North Carolina residents who rely on SNAP.
Amidst the government shutdown, SNAP benefits have been partially paused. On Sunday, Nov. 9, a U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals panel rejected a request from Trump’s administration to overturn a lower court ruling to withhold SNAP funding during the government shutdown.
The U.S. Supreme Court had previously allowed the White House to partially withhold benefits during a legal appeal, after Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued what’s known as an administrative stay.
The administration filed its request to the Supreme Court to allow it to freeze SNAP funding during the shutdown the morning of Nov. 10, the Associated Press reported. Jackson previously set a Nov. 11 morning deadline for the cities, nonprofit groups and others challenging the administration to respond.
When did the 2025 government shutdown start?
The government shutdown, which became the longest in history at 36 days on Nov. 5, began Oct. 1.
What was the longest government shutdown in history?
Over the last five decades, and as of Oct. 1, there have been 22 federal shutdowns. Here’s when they happened and how long they lasted.
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1976: Under Gerald Ford. Lasted for 11 days.
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1977: Under Jimmy Carter. Lasted 12 days.
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1977: Under Carter. Lasted eight days.
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1977: Under Carter. Lasted eight days.
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1978: Under Carter. Lasted 17 days.
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1979: Under Carter. Lasted 11 days.
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1981: Under Ronald Reagan. Lasted two days.
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1982: Under Reagan. Lasted one day.
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1982: Under Reagan. Lasted three days.
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1983: Under Reagan. Lasted three days.
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1984: Under Reagan. Lasted two days.
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1984: Under Reagan. Lasted one day.
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1986: Under Reagan. Lasted one day.
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1987: Under Reagan. Lasted one day.
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1990: Under George H.W. Bush. Lasted four days.
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1995: Under Bill Clinton. Lasted five days.
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1996: Under Clinton. Lasted 21 days.
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2013: Under Barack Obama. Lasted 17 days.
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2018: Under Trump. Lasted several hours.
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2019: Under Trump. Lasted 35 days and cost the economy about $3 billion, equal to 0.02% of GDP, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
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2025: Under Trump. Started on Oct. 1, 2025, and is ongoing.
Zachary Schermele and Joey Garrison, USA TODAY NETWORK, contributed to this report.
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Will the 2025 government shutdown end? When Senate will vote again
