Washington (Rajeev Sharma): After nearly six weeks of political deadlock that has shuttered large parts of the U.S. government, a group of centrist senators say they have crafted a plan that could reopen federal agencies and set the stage for a December vote on health care subsidies.
The proposal — led by Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, along with Independent Senator Angus King of Maine — would pass three long-stalled spending bills and temporarily extend funding for the rest of the government until late January. According to sources familiar with the discussions, the deal also includes a commitment from Republican leaders to allow a vote on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits before year’s end.
The outline of the agreement, which emerged over the weekend, offers the first real sign of movement since the shutdown began 40 days ago. Still, the plan faces skepticism within both parties. It remains unclear whether Republican leadership will fully back the compromise or whether enough Democrats will support it without an immediate extension of the ACA subsidies.
The federal shutdown has led to nationwide disruptions — grounding flights, halting paychecks for government employees, and threatening access to nutrition assistance for millions of Americans. Pressure on Congress has been mounting from both the public and business leaders to end the standoff.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune described the talks as “encouraging” but stopped short of endorsing the measure. “We’ll see what kind of support it draws,” he said on Sunday as senators returned for a rare weekend session.
The health care subsidies at the center of the dispute are a key feature of the Affordable Care Act, helping millions of families afford insurance coverage. If Congress fails to act, the enhanced tax credits will expire on January 1, potentially causing premiums to spike across the country.
Progressive Democrats have voiced frustration with the emerging deal, warning against settling for what they view as a symbolic promise from Republicans. Senator Bernie Sanders argued that ending the shutdown without securing the subsidies would be a “major mistake,” while Representative Greg Casar of Texas called the proposal “a betrayal” of working families. “A handshake agreement is not enough when people’s health care is on the line,” Casar said on social media.
Under the current framework, funding would resume for essential departments such as veterans’ services, food aid, and congressional operations, while other agencies would remain funded through a temporary stopgap until late January. The measure also includes provisions to undo some of the personnel dismissals that occurred since the shutdown began on October 1.
Senator Shaheen defended the bipartisan effort, saying that while it may not resolve every issue, “it’s a step toward reopening the government and getting workers paid.”
Democratic leaders are expected to meet again this week to decide whether to move the compromise forward. If the Senate agrees to proceed, the first procedural vote could happen as soon as tonight.
With federal workers missing another paycheck and public frustration rising, lawmakers face growing pressure to act. Whether this fragile bipartisan deal can bridge the political divide and bring the 40-day shutdown to an end will depend on how both parties navigate the next few days of tense negotiations.
