Inside the negotiations that produced a deal to end the shutdown

Joggers run past the US Capitol building in Washington DC, on November 10, 2025. Samuel Corum/Sipa USA/AP

On the 38th day, the logjam began to break.

After Republicans rejected a Democratic proposal to reopen the government , a small group of moderate Democrats met with Majority Leader John Thune on Friday, forging a path toward resolving the record-long shutdown, multiple sources familiar with the negotiations told CNN.

By Sunday evening, the cross-aisle talks opened between Thune and Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, Maggie Hassan, Angus King and Tim Kaine had yielded a deal that eight Democrats broke ranks to advance. By Monday evening, the Senate had voted 60-40 to pass the measure, which now heads to the House before President Donald Trump – who’s signaled support — can sign anythi