Eight Senate Democrats are facing intense backlash from within their own party after breaking ranks to support a Republican-led deal to end the 42-day government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history.
The Democrats who broke ranks to back the Republican deal were Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), John Fetterman (Pa.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), Tim Kaine (Va.), Angus King (Maine), Jacky Rosen (Nev.) and Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.).
The agreement, approved Monday night in a 60-40 vote, reopens the federal government through Jan. 30 but leaves major Democratic priorities unresolved.
The move, described by critics as a cave to President Donald Trump’s shutdown tactics, has triggered outrage among progressives and state party leaders. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, who voted against the deal, is also under pressure after failing to keep his caucus unified. Some Democrats are calling for a shakeup in Senate leadership.
“Making this deal is malpractice,” said New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill. California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the decision “pathetic” in a one-word post on X. California representative Ro Khanna also weighed in, noting that “Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced.”
The shutdown’s toll on the American public was severe. More than 800,000 federal workers went without pay, with roughly half forced to continue working despite the funding lapse. National parks were closed or operated without staff, resulting in an estimated $500 million in lost tourism revenue.
Nearly 7 million women, infants and children faced delays or disruptions in food assistance through the WIC program, while millions more saw food stamp (SNAP) benefits threatened. Air travel delays spiked nationwide, with the Federal Aviation Administration reporting a 20% increase in flight cancellations during the final week of the shutdown.
The Senate’s bipartisan vote followed weeks of gridlock that halted food stamps, furloughed federal workers, and disrupted air travel. The continuing resolution, brokered by eight Democrats and Republican leaders, keeps the government funded until Jan. 30.
In exchange, the deal reverses Trump’s controversial layoffs of federal employees during the shutdown. However, it stops short of extending Affordable Care Act subsidies that Democrats had fought to preserve. Instead, it promises only a separate vote on the subsidies in December, a nonbinding pledge with uncertain prospects in both chambers. Speaker Mike Johnson has not committed to bringing that vote to the House floor.
The House, controlled by Republicans, is expected to take up the bill on Wednesday after returning from the Veterans’ Day recess. Lawmakers have been out since before the shutdown began Oct. 1, awaiting Senate action on temporary funding. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer told members to be ready for multiple votes as early as 4 p.m. Wednesday.
If approved, the measure would go to Trump’s desk for signature.
Trump endorsed the Senate compromise Monday, telling reporters in the Oval Office that the agreement “hasn’t changed anything” and that “we’re going to be reopening our country.” The deal would restore pay for laid-off federal workers and maintain funding for key programs like veterans’ benefits and food assistance through September. Trump said he was “fine” with reversing the firings and called the deal “very good.”
Within hours of the vote, prominent Democrats condemned their colleagues who sided with Republicans. Progressive leaders argued the agreement gave away leverage without securing protections for health care coverage. “I cannot support a deal that still leaves millions of Americans wondering how they will pay for their health care,” said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who voted against the bill.
The eight Democrats who supported the resolution, whose names have not yet been formally released, are expected to face political consequences at home. Several liberal groups have already hinted at primary challenges in 2026.
Meanwhile, Trump announced that air traffic controllers who worked without pay during the shutdown would receive $10,000 bonuses, while those who stayed home could have pay “substantially docked.” The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that about 4% of flights were canceled over the weekend due to staffing shortages. “I don’t know where I’ll get the money,” Trump told Fox News. “I always get it from some place.”
While the deal may temporarily reopen the government, the underlying dispute over ACA subsidies remains unresolved. A December vote could again test the fragile coalition that ended the shutdown and determine whether Democrats can recover from one of the year’s most divisive moments.
