House Advances Bill to End Government Shutdown Hours Before Final Vote

The record-breaking U.S. government shutdown is on track to end after 43 days, with federal funding legislation clearing a critical House test vote on Wednesday. The bill is expected to receive final passage within hours, potentially reaching President Donald Trump’s desk by Wednesday night.

The White House has confirmed Trump will sign the legislation, issuing a statement that urged “every Member of Congress to support this responsible, good faith product to finally put an end to the longest shutdown in history.”

This shutdown has been the most prolonged in American history, causing increasing strain on federal services and employees across the country. Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration agents, forced to work without pay, have taken second jobs to make ends meet. This has led to widespread flight delays and cancellations at major airports as staffing shortages mounted. Meanwhile, millions of Americans depending on federal benefits faced uncertainty as funding for crucial government programs neared depletion.

The political impasse centered on healthcare funding. Democratic leadership refused to support any funding bill that didn’t extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies that are set to expire this year. These pandemic-era healthcare subsidies have reduced costs for millions of Americans, and Democrats argued that letting them lapse would trigger significant price hikes for families nationwide.

“House Democrats are here on the Capitol steps to reiterate our strong opposition to this spending bill because it fails to address the Republican healthcare crisis, and it fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credit,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told reporters hours before the vote.

Republicans maintained that federal funding should not be tied to partisan priorities but agreed to discussions on healthcare system reform. The breakthrough came via a Senate compromise, where eight Democrats joined their colleagues across the aisle to pass the bill in a 60-40 vote. The agreement included a side deal promising Democrats a December vote on extending the enhanced subsidies.

However, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has not made a similar commitment in the lower chamber, frustrating progressives and Democratic leadership. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Ala., criticized the compromise, saying, “What were Republicans willing to give in the end, other more than a handshake deal to take a future vote on extending the healthcare subsidies? We all know that a future vote is the equivalent of asking two wolves and a chicken to vote on what’s for dinner. It is dead on arrival.”

Despite Democratic opposition, Johnson expressed optimism before the vote. “I wanted to come out and say that we believe the long national nightmare will be over tonight,” Johnson told reporters. “It was completely and utterly foolish and pointless in the end.”

The legislation effectively kicks the funding issue down the road to January 30, by which time House Republican leaders believe they can complete work on a longer-term funding package for fiscal year 2026. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., told Fox News Digital that nine remaining appropriations bills need to be finalized in the coming weeks.

“[House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla.] and his appropriators will be working overtime,” Scalise said. When asked if he thought they could meet the deadline, Cole expressed confidence: “I think we can.”

While the stopgap measure appears poised to end the immediate crisis, it highlights the continuing partisan divide in Congress. The bill is expected to pass with largely Republican support in the House, though some moderate Democrats may cross party lines to vote for reopening the government despite their leadership’s opposition.

The resolution offers temporary relief to federal workers and agencies but leaves major policy disagreements unresolved as the country approaches another potential funding deadline in January.