Additional Coverage:
House Poised to End Record-Long Government Shutdown Today After Overnight Hurdles
Washington D.C. – After weeks of gridlock, the federal government is on the brink of reopening, with the House of Representatives scheduled to vote Wednesday on a bipartisan funding bill. The measure successfully navigated a crucial overnight hurdle, advancing through the House Rules Committee despite a partisan split.
The bipartisan agreement, aimed at ending the 42-day government shutdown – now the longest in U.S. history – cleared the House Rules Committee early Wednesday morning. Notably, all Republican members supported the measure, while all Democrats opposed it. The bill now moves to the full House for consideration, where sources close to GOP leadership anticipate its passage with strong Republican backing.
The Rules Committee’s marathon session, which began Tuesday evening and concluded shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday, marked a significant step toward resolving the protracted shutdown.
During the six-hour hearing, Democratic attempts to introduce amendments, including those related to expiring COVID-19-era Obamacare subsidies, were unsuccessful. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., made a surprise appearance to advocate for a three-year extension of these subsidies.
The hearing was not without its heated moments, as lawmakers from both sides clashed. Democrats repeatedly accused Republicans of jeopardizing Americans’ healthcare and taking a “vacation” during the shutdown.
House Rules Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., vehemently denied these claims, stating, “I worked every day. I don’t know about you.
I don’t want to hear another soul say that.”
A contentious provision within the funding bill also drew criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans. This provision would allow GOP senators to sue the federal government for $500,000 if their phone records were secretly obtained during former special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, expressed concerns, saying, “I think there’s gonna be a lot of people, if they look and understand this, they’re going to see it as self-serving, self-dealing kind of stuff.
And I don’t think that’s right.”
Following a procedural “rule vote,” which would allow for debate on the legislation, a final vote on the bill is expected Wednesday evening. If passed, the legislation will then head to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature.
President Trump signaled his support for the legislation on Monday, telling reporters, “We’ll be opening up our country very quickly.”
The Senate had previously passed the legislation in a 60-40 vote on Monday night, with eight Democrats joining Republicans to reopen the government.
The shutdown has led to widespread disruptions, including chaos at U.S. airports due to air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers working without pay. This has resulted in staffing shortages and flight delays, impacting holiday travel. Millions of Americans relying on federal food benefits have also faced uncertainty due to the funding impasse.
The current bill aims to extend fiscal year (FY) 2025 federal funding levels through January 30, providing negotiators more time to craft a longer-term deal for FY 2026. It also advances legislation to fund key departments, including the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration; the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction; and the legislative branch. These are part of a larger “minibus” package comprising three of the 12 annual appropriations bills.
In a win for Democrats, the deal also includes a reversal of federal layoffs conducted by the Trump administration in October, with those workers receiving back pay. Additionally, a side-deal in the Senate guarantees Democrats a vote on extending Obamacare subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has not made a similar promise in the House.