Government
Shutdown Deal Offers Relief but Contractors Face Weeks of Delayed Federal Actions
Backlogs, environmental reviews and grant approvals are expected to persist under a continuing resolution
A 41-day federal shutdown seems close to an end as the Senate advanced a bipartisan deal on Nov. 9, but most infrastructure agencies will continue operating under a stopgap that restricts new project starts and slows permitting, grant reviews and contract actions.
Updated 9:45 AM ET, Nov. 11, 2025
The U.S. Senate late Nov. 10 approved a bipartisan funding package to end the 41-day federal shutdown, clearing the legislation for House consideration as early as this week.
The 62–38 vote came shortly after 9 p.m. after five Democrats broke ranks to complete Senate action amending the House-passed continuing resolution to restore government operations and place most civilian agencies under temporary funding through Jan. 30, 2026.
The agreement provides full-year fiscal 2026 appropriations for military construction, the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, the Dept. of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration and the legislative branch, while extending fiscal 2024 funding levels for all other departments until Jan. 30.
The package also guarantees a mid-December Senate vote on extending expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits—an assurance sought by Democrats—but does not ensure enactment or require the House to take up a companion measure.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Nov. 10 urged members to return to Washington “right now,” saying he will call the chamber back into session as soon as the Senate’s bill formally arrives. Johnson said President Donald Trump is “very anxious” to reopen the government and expects to have enough Republican votes to move the package.
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Bryan Gottlieb is the online editor at Engineering News-Record (ENR).
Gottlieb is a five-time Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism award winner with more than a decade of experience covering business, construction and community issues, including finance, law and real estate. He has reported for Adweek and the San Diego Daily Transcript and led a community newsroom in Santa Monica, Calif. He served as editor-in-chief of the Detroit Metro Times and as managing editor at Roofing Contractor, where he helped shape national industry coverage. At Engineering News-Record, Gottlieb covers breaking news, large-scale infrastructure and megaprojects, regulatory developments and business trends across the U.S. and global construction sectors.
email: gottliebb@enr.com | office: (248) 786-1591
