Published: November 9, 2025
If you’ve been refreshing for updates all weekend — you’re not alone. We haven’t posted a new update since Friday, and that’s because, frankly, there hasn’t been much to update. Washington has spent the past few days locked in the same back-and-forth that’s defined this shutdown since it began on October 1, 2025.
So, to answer the question everyone’s asking. No, the government hasn’t reopened yet.
What You Missed (Friday to Today)
Here are the key developments since Friday to bring you up to speed:
- Friday (Nov 7): The shutdown officially entered the longest in U.S. history – surpassing the 35-day mark. Investopedia Meanwhile the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that due to controller staffing shortages, some high-traffic airports would begin flight reductions starting Nov 7 if the shutdown continued. Al Jazeera
- Saturday (Nov 8): Reports emerged of a potential deal in the Senate that several moderate Democrats and Republicans were lining up behind — a sign the impasse might be shifting. Wikipedia The Supreme Court of the United States issued an emergency order letting the administration pause a lower-court mandate to pay full benefits, effectively allowing partial payments or delayed payments to stand for now. AP News+1
- Sunday (Nov 9): The Senate voted 60-40 to advance a bipartisan spending package designed to reopen the government — a procedural breakthrough, though not final. AP News
The package includes funding through January 2026 and promises of back pay and rehiring for federal employees. Al Jazeera
However the bill does not guarantee an extension of ACA subsidies — a sticking point for many Democrats. AP News
Where things stand right now
On Saturday, the Senate finally showed the first real signs of movement, voting 60–40 to advance (not pass) a temporary funding bill that would reopen the government through January 2026. That vote broke the procedural logjam that’s stalled Congress for over a month — but it wasn’t the finish line.
The bill still needs to:
- Clear final passage in the Senate after debate wraps up.
- Pass the House of Representatives, where hardline members remain opposed to a short-term deal.
- Get signed by President Trump, who hasn’t yet committed to signing anything without additional spending cuts.
Until those steps happen, hundreds of thousands of federal workers are still unpaid, air travel remains snarled by FAA staffing shortages, and families relying on SNAP benefits are still waiting for clear answers about November funding.
What’s causing the holdup
At this point, the fight isn’t over whether to reopen — it’s how. Democrats want to include a short-term extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies in the funding bill. Some Republicans say that’s a “policy rider” that doesn’t belong in a stopgap. The White House, meanwhile, is using the standoff to push for broader spending cuts.
What to expect next
The Senate is expected to resume debate early next week, with the goal of voting on the final bill by Tuesday or Wednesday. If it passes, attention shifts to the House — and whether Speaker Johnson can get enough votes to send it to Trump’s desk.
That means, best-case scenario, a deal could come together by midweek. Worst case? The shutdown drags into its 41st day, shattering even more records.
Why we paused updates
We didn’t go silent — the news did. Over the past 48 hours, the story has mostly been the same recycled statements: “Talks are ongoing,” “Both sides remain far apart,” “The President is monitoring discussions.” We’re watching the same briefings and vote trackers you are — and when something real happens, we’ll post immediately.
What’s next on GovernmentShutdown.net
We’re tracking three key developments this week:
- The Senate floor schedule for the funding vote.
- House response and any signs of compromise from leadership.
- Updates from FAA, USDA, and OMB as the shutdown’s ripple effects spread.
Bookmark this page or follow us on Google News to stay current when that final vote happens — because when it does, you’ll see it here first.
GovernmentShutdown.net provides daily, nonpartisan updates on the 2025 U.S. government shutdown and its impact on workers, programs, and the economy.