Senate Votes to Reopen Government, Restore Full USDA Operations

November 10, 2025

The U.S. Senate has voted to officially end the nation’s longest-ever government shutdown.

Late Tuesday, senators approved a bipartisan funding compromise to reopen the federal government. The measure now moves to the House, where GOP leaders are hopeful it could pass as soon as Wednesday. President Donald Trump is expected to sign it.

The bill would immediately restore critical federal services like food aid and resume pay for hundreds of thousands of furloughed workers.

It also fully funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the FDA, and other agencies through September of 2026 — while extending the 2018 Farm Bill for the same period.

The vote passed 60–40.

Democrats voting in favor:

Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), Dick Durbin (IL), John Fetterman (PA), Maggie Hassan (NH), Tim Kaine (VA), Jackie Rosen (NV), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), and Independent Angus King (ME), who caucuses with Democrats.

Republican Sen. Rand Paul (KY) voted against the measure.

Agriculture and Rural Provisions

Funding Duration: Fully funds the USDA through Sept. 30, 2026, and extends programs under the 2018 Farm Bill through the same date.

Ag Appropriations: Provides $26.65 billion for Agriculture, Rural Development, and the FDA.

SNAP & WIC: Allocates $107 billion for SNAP and reimburses contingency funds used during the shutdown.

Farm Credit & Conservation:

• $30 billion for the Commodity Credit Corp.
• $10 billion for FSA farm loans, with a ban on office closures.
• $850 million for NRCS technical assistance.

Research & Animal Health:

• $3.8 billion for agricultural research (removes funding for “Climate Hubs”).
• $1.2 billion for APHIS to combat chronic wasting disease, screwworm, and avian flu.

Livestock:

• $13.5 million to help ranchers buy electronic identification tags to comply with animal disease traceability requirements.
• $211 million for the Agricultural Marketing Service, including $1 million for the Cattle Contract Library Pilot Program.

Rural Development:

• $4.1 billion total — with $1.7B for rental assistance, $1B for housing loans, $1.8B for rural businesses, and $1.4B for water infrastructure.

International Food Aid:

• $1.2 billion for Food for Peace and $240 million for McGovern-Dole programs, shifting oversight to USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

Hemp Industry Showdown

The Senate also rejected an amendment by Sen. Rand Paul seeking to remove a hemp restriction he said would “destroy the livelihoods of hemp farmers.”

The amendment failed 76–24, after Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) moved to table it, arguing the bill closes a loophole that lets companies convert hemp into intoxicating Delta-8 THC products marketed to children.

The final bill maintains a THC limit of 0.4 mg per container, effectively banning full-spectrum CBD and Delta-8 products, a decision opposed by hemp producers nationwide.

With bipartisan support secured, the Senate is expected to vote on final passage soon, after which the House must approve the measure. If enacted, it will reopen the federal government, restore furloughed jobs, and stabilize agricultural programs—while tightening hemp product regulations.

Source: DTN, Western Ag Network