US government shutdown update: Senate reaches deal to end impasse, say reports, possible vote today; Trump reacts

A deal has reportedly been reached between a group of at least eight Senate Democrats, GOP leaders and the White House to reopen the government in exchange for a future vote on extending enhanced Affordable Care subsidies, US media reported on Sunday.

The vote is likely to be held around 8:30 and 9 pm ET (7:30 am IST). The development comes as the US government shutdown enters its 40th day. 

Here's what we know so far:

1. Senate Republican leader John Thune said a deal is “coming together” as he planned a test vote Sunday on a narrow spending package to end the federal government shutdown.

However, there was no guarantee it would end an impasse now stretching to 40 days.

"We'll see kind of where the votes are," Thune said, adding, “This kind of stuff can drag on indefinitely if you allow it to.”

He told reporters the chamber plans to vote on Sunday on the House-passed funding measure, which is part of a plan to reopen the government, alongside passing a handful of year-long funding measures.

The procedural vote would require support from several Democrats. The measure has fallen short of the 60-vote threshold 14 times.

2. Meanwhile, Trump, returning to the White House from a Commander's game, told reporters that "it looks like we're getting close to the shutdown ending." Trump said, “You'll know very soon.”

3. As per CNN and CBS news, a deal, led by Sens Angus King of Maine, Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, has been reached with Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the White House.

4. What does the deal include? The deal includes a vote on a Democrat-backed bill regarding the Affordable Care Act, with an agreement to hold a vote by the end of the second week of December. Democrats have sought to extend health insurance tax credits under the ACA.

The deal also includes a reversal of all shutdown-related layoff notices and extends stopgap funding through January, among other things.

5. When is the voting to end the 40-day government shutdown scheduled? The Senate will vote on the deal beginning between 8:30 and 9 pm ET Sunday (7:30 am IST Monday), a GOP aide told CNN.

6. The Senate bill would fund the government through January 2026. Senate appropriators released the third and final bill as part of a package of full-year funding bills, which would fund the legislative branch, according to CBS News.

Earlier in the day, appropriators released bills to fund military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs, along with the FDA and the Department of Agriculture.

The package of bills, known as a "minibus," is part of a GOP plan to end the shutdown.

7. What happens if the vote succeeds? Even if the vote on Sunday succeeds, that doesn’t necessarily mean the shutdown will end quickly, Bloomberg reported on Sunday.

It stated that House Democrats would also have to get on board with the plan, and their backing remained uncertain. Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that the necessary Democratic support wasn't yet certain as it appeared unlikely the package would extend health care subsidies that expire at the end of the year.

Many Democrats in both chambers have continued to demand a one-year extension of the ‘Obamacare’ subsidies for low-income Americans in exchange for agreeing to reopen the government.

8. Democrats have now voted 14 times not to reopen the government as they demand the extension of tax credits that make coverage more affordable for health plans offered under the Affordable Care Act.

Republicans have refused to negotiate on the health care subsidies. At the same time, the government is closed, but they have so far been supportive of the emerging proposal from moderate Democrats to end the shutdown in exchange for a later vote.

What does it take to end US government shutdown?

According to the AP, Republicans only need five votes from Democrats to reopen the government, so a handful of moderate senators could end the shutdown with only the promise of a later vote on healthcare.

Around 10 to 12 Democrats have been involved in the talks.

Many of their Democratic colleagues are saying the emerging deal is not enough.

Moreover, the amended package would still have to be passed by the House of Representatives and sent to US President Donald Trump for his signature, a process that could take several days.