CaliToday (10/11/2025): The compromise, shaped by President Trump's hard line, would restore federal jobs, secure full-year funding for Veterans and SNAP, but delay the explosive Obamacare fight until December.
WASHINGTON – Amid a grueling, 40-plus day government shutdown that has left hundreds of thousands of federal employees furloughed, a new bipartisan bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate. The legislation represents the first major, realistic compromise aimed at temporarily reopening the government and protecting essential welfare programs.
The deal was announced Sunday evening following weeks of stalemate, offering a path to end the longest government closure in U.S. history.
The Five-Point Compromise
According to a summary of the bill, the shutdown-ending legislation includes five key provisions:
Temporary Government Funding: Extends federal government appropriations through January 31, 2026. This would immediately allow federal agencies to resume operations and end the forced, unpaid furloughs for federal workers.
Reversing Federal Layoffs: Officially reverses the "Reduction in Force" (RIFs) policies that have been implemented since October 1, 2025, restoring the jobs of thousands of public servants affected by the shutdown.
Securing Veterans' Care: Provides full-year funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This crucial move ensures that healthcare, disability benefits, and rehabilitation services for the nation's veterans will not be interrupted, reflecting a key commitment of the Trump administration.
Protecting Food Assistance: Enacts full-year funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This provision secures food aid for over 40 million low-income Americans, preventing a looming interruption of benefits.
A December Obamacare Showdown: Pledges a Senate vote on Obamacare (ACA) subsidies in December. Critically, the bill does not commit to an immediate extension. This aligns with President Donald Trump's hard-line stance on ending what he calls "bailouts" for insurance companies, favoring direct-to-consumer Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) instead.
Trump’s "Firm Stance" Seen as Key
The bill is the result of tense, back-channel negotiations between Senate Leader John Thune (R-SD) and a group of moderate Democrats.
However, according to political observers, President Trump was the central factor in forcing the compromise. He has steadfastly refused any deal that included new spending for Obamacare, insisting that Congress prioritize funding for workers and veterans who were bearing the brunt of the shutdown.
As The Hill noted in its analysis, "it was President Trump's firm stance that forced the Senate to act."
A senior advisor to Leader Thune put it more bluntly:
"Without Trump, there would be no deal on the table."
If passed, the bill would reopen the government within the week, restoring paychecks, benefits, and stability to financial markets that have been rattled by the prolonged crisis.
The compromise, however, simply postpones the inevitable. The issue of ACA subsidies remains a major political flashpoint, now scheduled to return to the Senate floor in December—promising a new political war between Trump-aligned conservatives and the Democratic party.