The United States government shutdown, the longest in the nation’s history at 42 days, moved toward its conclusion Wednesday evening as the House of Representatives passed funding legislation that now awaits President Donald Trump’s signature.
The bill passed with a vote of 222 to 209, with all but two Republicans joined by six Democrats in favor of the measure. The White House announced the President would sign the legislation at 9:45 p.m., bringing to a close the fiscal standoff that has paralyzed federal operations since October 1.
The scene on the House floor reflected the partisan divide that has characterized this shutdown. Republican members erupted in applause as the vote tally became clear, while the majority of Democratic members quietly departed the chamber. It was a stark contrast to the September 19 vote on initial funding legislation, when only one Democrat supported the Republican position.
House Speaker Mike Johnson struck an optimistic tone in his remarks to reporters Wednesday morning. “I wanted to come out and say that we believe the long national nightmare will be over tonight,” Johnson stated. “It was completely and utterly foolish and pointless in the end.”
The six Democrats who crossed party lines to support the legislation were Representatives Tom Suozzi of New York, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Adam Gray of California, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, and Don Davis of North Carolina. Their votes proved crucial in securing passage.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York explained his caucus’s opposition hours before the vote, focusing on what Democrats view as a critical omission from the bill. “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,” Jeffries said.
The enhanced tax credits under the Affordable Care Act, implemented during the pandemic, are set to expire this year. Democrats had sought to include their extension in any funding agreement.
A last-minute provision nearly disrupted Republican unity earlier in the day. The addition allows senators whose communications were intercepted during former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation to sue the federal government for $500,000 each. Representatives Chip Roy of Texas, Austin Scott of Georgia, and Morgan Griffith of Virginia expressed concerns about the measure but ultimately decided not to oppose the bill over this single provision.
The 42-day shutdown has affected hundreds of thousands of federal workers, many of whom have gone without paychecks for more than a month. Air traffic controllers and other essential personnel have continued working without pay, raising concerns about safety and morale across federal agencies.
As the nation prepares for federal operations to resume, questions remain about the political cost of this extended impasse and whether lessons have been learned that might prevent similar disruptions in the future.
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