Latest Government Shutdown : House Pushes Toward Reopening After Key Vot

Urgent: 42-Day Govt Shutdown Crisis Nears End After Key House Vote

In a latest critical move to end the record-breaking government shutdown, a bipartisan funding bill has cleared a major procedural hurdle in the House of Representatives, setting the stage for a final vote to reopen the federal government.

The bill to end the 42-day government shutdown survived a crucial vote in the powerful House Rules Committee overnight, advancing to the full House for a final decision expected Wednesday evening. This committee vote is a significant step toward resolving the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

The breakthrough came after a marathon, six-hour hearing that stretched into the early hours of Wednesday morning. The committee voted along party lines, with all Republicans supporting the measure and all Democrats opposing it. Despite the partisan divide in the committee, GOP leaders are confident the bill will pass the full House with near-universal Republican support.

A Contentious Path Forward

The path to this point was far from smooth. The Rules Committee hearing was marked by intense partisan clashes. Democrats repeatedly attempted to force votes on amendments, including one to extend COVID-19-era enhanced Obamacare subsidies set to expire at the end of the year. All Democratic amendments were defeated.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries made a surprise appearance to testify in favor of his own amendment for a three-year extension of the healthcare subsidies, highlighting the high stakes of the negotiations.

Tensions flared during the session, with Democrats accusing Republicans of “robbing Americans of their healthcare” and taking an extended “vacation” during the shutdown. Rep. Virginia Foxx, the Republican committee chair, forcefully pushed back, stating, “I worked every day. I don’t know about you. I don’t want to hear another soul say that.”

A particular point of contention was a provision in the bill that would allow GOP senators to sue the federal government for $500,000 over the secret seizure of their phone records during ex-special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation. Some Republicans, like Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, criticized the measure as “self-serving.”

Immediate Impacts and Broader Deal

The urgency to pass the bill is driven by the mounting real-world consequences of the shutdown. Millions of Americans relying on federal food benefits have been left in limbo. Furthermore, travel disruptions have caused chaos at U.S. airports, as air traffic controllers and TSA officers have been working without pay, leading to staffing shortages and flight delays.

The bill on the table would extend fiscal year 2025 funding levels through January 30, providing negotiators more time to reach a long-term agreement for fiscal year 2026. This “minibus” package funds three key areas: the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration; the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction; and the legislative branch.

In a victory for Democrats, the deal would reverse federal layoffs conducted by the Trump administration in October, with affected workers receiving back pay. A side-deal struck in the Senate also guarantees a vote on legislation to extend the expiring Obamacare subsidies.

The Senate already broke its weeks of gridlock, passing the legislation in a 60-40 vote on Monday night. President Donald Trump has signaled his support for the deal, telling reporters, “We’ll be opening up our country very quickly.” If the House passes the bill as expected Wednesday evening, it will head to the president’s desk for his signature, finally bringing an end to a painful and protracted chapter for the federal government and the nation.