Longest U.S. Government Shutdown in History

Current Status: U.S. Government Shutdown — Day 36

As of November 6, 2025, the federal government remains in a partial shutdown for the 36th consecutive day. However, new movement is underway in the Senate that could signal the first real progress toward ending the impasse.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced during a closed-door lunch with Republicans that a Friday vote is planned to advance a new shutdown-ending deal. The proposal would amend the previously House-passed continuing resolution to include a January 2026 funding extension and a package of three full-year spending bills.

What’s Next in Congress?

According to reports, Thune believes the plan could attract enough Democratic support to move forward, though the final outcome is uncertain due to potential procedural hurdles and objections from within both parties.

Senate Democrats met separately on Thursday afternoon for their own strategy session. While no agreement was reached, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described the meeting as “productive,” with several Democrats emphasizing the need to remain unified while preparing a counter-proposal to the GOP plan.

Majority Whip John Barrasso confirmed that lawmakers are preparing to stay in Washington through the weekend to continue negotiations. Finalizing any agreement could still take several days even if the Friday vote advances.

Background: Why the Shutdown Began

The shutdown began on October 1, 2025, after the Senate blocked H.R. 5371 — a short-term continuing resolution passed by the House that would have funded the government through November 21. The measure failed in the Senate, triggering a lapse in federal funding.

Since then, essential programs including SNAP food assistance and national park operations have faced major disruptions, leaving millions of Americans affected by delayed services and furloughed operations.