Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, speaks at a press conference with other Senate Democrats who voted to restore government funding in Washington, Nov. 9, 2025. (Nathan Posner/Getty Images)
To other Democrats, it’s the party’s top figures who led a losing effort.
"Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced. If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?" Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif, said in a post on social media on Sunday.
The government first plunged into a shutdown 40 days ago on Oct. 1 when Democrats rejected a short-term spending bill advanced by Republicans in the House meant to keep the government afloat until Nov. 21. Democrats had demanded that lawmakers first consider expiring COVID-era Obamacare subsidies set to phase out at the end of the year. Republicans, who saw spending and the tax credits as completely unrelated, refused to negotiate on the tax credits during the shutdown.
Ultimately, Republicans avoided any substantive concessions on the Obamacare credits.
The package advanced by the Senate on Sunday looks to reopen the government through Jan. 30, 2026, and also includes a bundle of three yearlong spending bills to fund Veterans Affairs, the country’s agriculture expenses and the legislative branch.
In return, Democrats who voted for the package secured the inclusion of language that prevents the Trump administration from conducting mass layoffs of federal workers through Jan. 30 and guarantees back pay for federal employees fired since the beginning of the shutdown. Additionally, they secured a stand-alone vote on the tax credit subsidies to be considered later this year, although that vote remains likely to fail without the needed Republican support.
To some Democrats, a failure to secure an extension — or even a partial extension — of the Obamacare subsidies was unacceptable.
GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN AFTER CONGRESS DEADLOCKS ON SPENDING DEAL
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., walks through the Senate Subway in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 27, 2025. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
"On healthcare, I’d like to keep trying," Coons said. "But I understand, I respect my colleagues who are saying it’s time."
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A final vote on the spending package is expected to take place in the Senate early this week. After that, it must clear the House of Representatives before it can become law and reopen the government.
Leo Briceno is a politics reporter for the congressional team at Fox News Digital. He was previously a reporter with World Magazine.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-vote-end-government-shutdown-ignites-democrat-civil-war