The United States government has officially reopened following the passage of a funding bill by Congress. The House of Representatives approved the legislation with a majority vote, and the Senate passed it 222-209. President Trump is expected to sign the bill shortly, which will provide government funding through January 2026 and allow lawmakers additional time to negotiate a long-term budget agreement.
During the Senate vote, eight Democratic senators broke ranks and sided with Republicans, securing the required 60-vote threshold for the bill to advance. Despite the approval, several senior Democrats, including Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, opposed the measure, citing concerns over the lack of clear commitments to extend healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
With the government reopened, the Senate is expected to continue discussions on long-term budget plans and healthcare legislation such as Obamacare. The bill also drew criticism from House Republicans over provisions allowing access to senators’ electronic records without consent, which could expose the government to lawsuits of up to $500,000. GOP members have signaled plans to repeal this provision once the government is fully operational.