WASHINGTON D.C. – In a pivotal moment that could signal the end of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of Texas cast their votes in favor of a bipartisan appropriations bill, a crucial Government Shutdown Deal that passed the Senate late on November 10, 2025. The agreement, which now heads to the House of Representatives, aims to reopen federal agencies and restore essential services after 41 days of federal operations being largely idled, marking a significant government shutdown end.
This Top News comes after a prolonged congressional stalemate that began on October 1, 2025, when Congress failed to pass appropriations legislation for the 2026 fiscal year. The shutdown, which impacted millions of Americans, including federal workers, SNAP recipients, and air travelers, was finally brought to a procedural vote thanks to a coalition of Republicans and eight Democratic Senators who broke with their party leadership, achieving a rare bipartisan appropriations bill breakthrough. The measure secured the necessary 60 votes to advance, with Texas’s senior senator, John Cornyn, reportedly providing the crucial 60th vote after a flight from Texas to Washington D.C., solidifying this Government Shutdown Deal.
Background: A Shutdown of Unprecedented Length
The shutdown, which began on October 1, 2025, surpassed the previous record of 35 days set in 2018-2019, creating widespread uncertainty and hardship. A central point of contention was the impending expiration of affordable care act subsidies at the end of 2025. Democrats demanded an extension of these subsidies as part of any funding agreement, while Republicans largely insisted on resolving the shutdown first before addressing other legislative priorities. This partisan divide left federal agencies without funding, leading to the furlough of approximately 900,000 federal employees and forcing millions more to work without pay. The need for a Government Shutdown Deal became increasingly apparent with each passing day.
The Senate’s Bipartisan Breakthrough: A Government Shutdown Deal
The Government Shutdown Deal, negotiated over several days, will fund most federal agencies through January 30, 2026. It also includes three full-year appropriations bills for key departments such as the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Legislative Branch, with funding set to last until September 30, 2026. A significant provision within the agreement guarantees federal workers back pay for those who were furloughed or continued working without compensation during the shutdown. Additionally, the deal prohibits further layoffs or reductions in force (RIFs) until the end of January 2026, aiming to reverse some of the immediate impacts on the federal workforce following this government shutdown end.
Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, both Republicans from Texas, supported the measure, contributing to the successful senate funding deal. The bill garnered broad Republican support, with only Senator Rand Paul voting against it. On the Democratic side, eight senators – Catherine Cortez Masto, Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Angus King, Jacky Rosen, and Jeanne Shaheen – joined Republicans, enabling the bill to clear the chamber’s procedural hurdles. This defection from the Democratic caucus was met with criticism from some party members, who felt the deal fell short by not securing the affordable care act subsidies extension. This Government Shutdown Deal was hard-won.
Impact on Texans and Federal Services: Federal Agency Reopening
The resolution of the shutdown promises to alleviate immediate concerns for millions of Americans. For Texans, this includes the restoration of full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. During the shutdown, the timely issuance of November SNAP payments was jeopardized, with some recipients in Texas receiving only partial benefits, leading to significant hardship for about 3.5 million Texans reliant on the program. The funding deal ensures these critical food assistance programs will continue uninterrupted, facilitating federal agency reopening.
Air travel, which experienced disruptions due to staffing shortages caused by furloughs of air traffic controllers and TSA agents, is also expected to return to normal operations, contributing to the federal agency reopening. While passports would still be issued, processing times could have been significantly delayed in a prolonged shutdown, underscoring the importance of this Government Shutdown Deal.
A Divided Vote on Hemp Regulation
Separately, the Senate also addressed an amendment related to hemp regulation. In a split vote that reflected differing views within the Texas delegation, Senator Ted Cruz voted in favor of an amendment that would allow states to regulate hemp, emphasizing it as a state issue. Senator John Cornyn, however, voted against the amendment, helping to preserve a federal ban on certain THC concentrations and maintaining the status quo that aligns with actions taken by some Texas lawmakers. This move comes after Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick championed a similar THC ban in the state earlier in the year, though it was vetoed by Governor Greg Abbott. The texas senators vote on this issue highlights ongoing legislative complexities.
Political Fallout and Future Challenges
While the immediate threat of a continued shutdown has receded, the legislative battle is not entirely over. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, where Speaker Mike Johnson has called members back to session. The deal’s passage in the House is anticipated, but the core issue of affordable care act subsidies remains unresolved, indicating a potential future congressional stalemate. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has committed to holding a vote on legislation to extend these expiring healthcare tax credits by early December 2025, a promise that may help appease dissatisfied Democrats but leaves the ultimate outcome uncertain, despite this Government Shutdown Deal.
Senator Cornyn, while voting for the deal, did not shy away from criticizing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, calling the past 40 days the “longest [and] dumbest government shutdown in history”. Democratic leaders, including House Progressive Caucus Chairman Greg Casar, a Texas representative, expressed frustration that the deal did not directly address the healthcare cost increases, calling it a “betrayal”. The passage of this Government Shutdown Deal represents a temporary reprieve from the ongoing congressional stalemate.
As the nation breathes a sigh of relief with the prospect of government services resuming, the underlying political divisions and the unresolved debate over healthcare subsidies highlight the ongoing challenges facing lawmakers. The passage of this funding deal marks a significant step toward normalcy, but the ripples of this trending political saga will likely be felt for some time, despite this much-needed Government Shutdown Deal.
