The House of Representatives approved a bill on Wednesday that funds the government through January 30, bringing to an end the United States’ longest government shutdown in history.
It was sent to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature after a historic 43-day funding lapse that saw millions of Americans affected, including federal workers, who went without multiple paychecks, travellers stranded at airports and people lining up at food banks to get a meal for their families.
The bill saw six Democrats join their Republican colleagues to end the shutdown, including Reps. Henry Cuellar of Texas, Don Davis of North Carolina, Adam Gray of California, Jared Golden of Maine, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, and Tom Suozzi of New York. The Republicans used their slight majority to get the bill over the finish line with a mostly party-line vote of 222-209.
“We told you 43 days ago from bitter experience that government shutdowns don’t work,” said Rep. Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, adding, “They never achieve the objective that you announce. And guess what? You haven’t achieved that objective yet, and you’re not going to.”
Trump is expected to sign the bill on Wednesday night, paving the way for thousands of federal workers to return to work on Thursday.
The compromise funds three annual spending bills and extends the rest of government funding through January 30. It also provides funding for some agencies through the end of next September, including payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“We had reached a point where I think a number of us believed that the shutdown had been very effective in raising the concern about health care,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. The promise for a future vote “gives us an opportunity to continue to address that going forward.”
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The legislation includes a reversal of the firing of federal workers by the Trump administration since the shutdown began, and also protects federal workers against further layoffs through January and guarantees they are paid once the shutdown is over.
The package includes $203.5 million to boost security for lawmakers and an additional $28 million for the security of Supreme Court justices.
Democrats are also calling for removal of the provision that would give senators the opportunity to sue when a federal agency or employee searches their electronic records without notifying them, allowing for up to $500,000 in potential damages for each violation.
The biggest point of contention, though, was the fate of the expiring enhanced tax credit that makes health insurance more affordable through Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said Republicans have wanted to repeal the health overall for the past 15 years. “That's where they're trying to go,” she said.
Both parties have significant choices to make in about a month, that could lay the groundwork for their political successes.
Senate Democrats will have to craft a bill that addresses the expiring ACA subsidies while bringing enough Republicans on board for passage.
If they’re successful at getting an extension, Democrats will be able to start 2026 with a policy victory in hand before going into the midterm elections. But, if Republicans don’t support it, Democrats will still have health care to run on next year.
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