The U.S. Senate passed a funding bill on Nov. 10 to begin the process of reopening the government after seven Democratic senators, and one Independent who caucuses with Democrats, broke ranks and sided with Republicans.

These eight senators were:

• John Fetterman (D-PA)

• Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)

• Jackie Rosen (D-NV)

• Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)

• Maggie Hassan (D-NH)

• Tim Kaine (D-VA)

• Dick Durbin (D-IL)

• Angus King (I-ME)

The decision, coming after more than 40 days into the shutdown and more than a dozen Senate votes, has drawn both praise and criticism.

Many Republicans have lauded the bill and its signal that an end to the shutdown is finally in sight. Conversely, reactions from Senate Democrats ranged from disappointment to fury over what they view as a blatant subversion of the Democratic Party’s goals and Democratic leadership in the Senate.

Throughout the weeks-long shutdown, Democrats have withheld support for a funding bill in an effort to leverage an extension on subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly called “Obamacare.”

These subsidies were designed to help offset the costs of health insurance for lower and middle-income individuals. For more information on health insurance subsidies, take a look at this article from the Harvard Kennedy School.

However, in the funding bill that passed on Monday, there was no provision to extend ACA subsidies. Instead, the eight Democratic caucus members in support of the bill are relying on an offer by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-ND) that a separate vote will be held later in the year, when the subsidies are set to expire.

In the Republican-controlled Senate, though, the likelihood is slim that any measure to extend subsidies will pass. Many Democrats who voted against the funding bill cite the absence of subsidy extensions as a significant concession in the shutdown battle.

Notably, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) did not support the bill negotiated by members of his own party. In remarks on the Senate floor Monday night, Schumer said the bill “fails to address the healthcare crisis.”

Several Democrats have viewed the actions of these Democratic senators as evidence that Schumer is falling short in his role as Minority Leader, some even going as far as suggesting a need for leadership change.

“Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced,” wrote Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) in a post on X following the Monday night vote in the Senate.

The eight senators who broke from the party held a press conference on Sunday night, justifying their decisions to go against their Democratic colleagues. One of their main points was that after more than 40 days into the shutdown, there was no evidence that Democrats were any closer to achieving their demands to extend ACA subsidies.

“What there is evidence of is the harm that the shutdown is doing to the country,” said Sen. King.

“Waiting another week, or another month, wouldn’t deliver a better outcome,” said Sen. Shaheen. “It would only mean more harm for families in New Hampshire and across the country.”

With the funding bill passing the Senate, it heads to the House of Representatives next, where it will face a floor vote. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) called members back to Washington, D.C., after the chamber had been in recess since September.

The House could vote on a funding bill as soon as Wednesday. If passed, the bill will then head to President Trump’s desk. Should the bill move quickly through the House and President Trump, the government could reopen as soon as the end of this week.