FAQs: What's in the deal to end the government shutdown, and how quickly can the bill be enacted?

WASHINGTON — The Senate has moved through the process of debating and voting on a funding agreement to end the record-long U.S. government shutdown, so it now can go before the House.

If passed by the House — with expectations that might occur by Wednesday — the bill will go to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature, and then federal agencies will reopen.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Monday it appears that “our long national nightmare is finally coming to an end.” Here’s what’s in the deal, and what’s ahead to finally reopen the federal government:

What’s in the deal?

The Senate’s breakthrough step Sunday occurred when seven Democrats and one independent who caucuses with Democrats joined majority Republicans in a deal that — at the top — extends current levels of government funding and reopens agencies through Jan. 30.

But the deal that brought this coalition together is actually a multipart legislative package.

One part of it is a stopgap bill to restart and fund most government agencies through Jan. 30. This is necessary because 12 annual spending bills that cover nearly all areas of government have still not been passed, though they were due on Oct. 1, for the current fiscal year that lasts through Sept. 30, 2026.

By extending current funding levels through Jan. 30, the idea is for House and Senate negotiators to finish up the work not yet done on the annual, full-year appropriations bills.

However, attached to this temporary funding bill are also finished versions of three of those 12 full-year bills, covering military construction and veterans affairs, the legislative branch and the Department of Agriculture.

That means if this package is passed and signed into law, at least the agencies and programs under those three bills will be funded through September, no matter what.

Also, passage of the agriculture bill, among other things, would restore lapsed funding through Sept. 30, 2026, to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, and Women, Infants and Children program. That aid became a major issue during the shutdown, when the Trump administration balked at using emergency funds to pay recipients. The military construction bill also delivers a list of favored local projects.

What’s most notably not in the deal?

Top Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both of Brooklyn, had framed the shutdown fight, in part, as Democrats holding fast to a demand that language be included to extend health care tax credits under the Affordable Care Act that are set to expire at the end of the year.

But the final package being voted on does not include that language. Instead, the eight senators who joined with Republicans in advancing the deal settled for a promise that Republicans in the Senate would allow a vote on the subsidies by the close of the second week of December.

However, a vote on health care tax credits is almost certain to fail — and, in fact, had been offered before. The acceptance of such an offer now has angered other lawmakers, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) who notes that the bill is almost certain to fail in the Senate. There’s also been no such promise for a House vote, and Sanders notes the president is not likely to sign such a bill, anyhow.

What does the deal mean for federal workers?

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) — who represents thousands of northern Virginia federal workers — was among the eight senators who joined Republicans in supporting the deal. He explained a big reason was that it benefits government employees.

There are about 31,000 federal workers who live or work on Long Island.

Language in the temporary funding bill would call for rehiring federal employees who were terminated during the shutdown, provide back pay for all federal employees regardless of status and include a pledge to prevent future reductions in the federal workforce.

The bill specifically says “no federal funds may be used to initiate, carry out, implement, or otherwise notice a reduction in force to reduce the number of employees within any department, agency, or office of the federal government” until Jan. 30.

What’s next and how does the government finally open?

The Senate had to take several procedural votes before the final one that took in all the elements of the deal. Along the way, any senator was able to delay the process, including by offering amendments or requiring roll call votes.

That process moved quickly Monday and allowed for Senate passage of the bill.

Johnson said earlier Monday that he believed the bill would make it to the House by Wednesday. He asked members to return to Washington for a vote. The narrow GOP majority in that chamber — combined with promises by Jeffries and Democrats that they will oppose the bill — means Johnson will have to keep nearly all Republicans in line.

If approved by the House, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said he expects the president will sign the measure swiftly.