Senate moves on shutdown deal that would fund DOD by CR until Jan. 30

The Senate on Sunday took a first step toward ending the longest-ever government shutdown, clearing a procedural hurdle to approve a package that would keep agencies funded through at least January and walk back thousands of federal employee layoffs.

The agreement came together on the shutdown’s 40th day and would approve full-year appropriations for the Veterans Affairs Department, Agriculture Department and the legislative branch. All other agencies would operate at their fiscal 2025 levels under a continuing resolution that would expire after Jan. 30.

Most Democrats still voted against the deal as it will not take any affirmative step to abate health care premium increases for millions of Americans next year, the key demand that led to the shutdown in the first place. Still, a suffici