Government Shutdown Nears Resolution with Upcoming House Vote

After what has felt like an eternity, the end of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history may finally be on the horizon. A vote in the House for a federal funding bill is scheduled for late Wednesday evening.

House members will first take a procedural vote on whether to move forward with the bill at 5 p.m., with a final vote expected at 7 p.m. If all goes well, that is.

The government has been in shutdown mode for 43 days now, stemming from intense disputes between Democrats and Republicans over a funding bill proposed by the Republicans. This bill would temporarily extend fiscal year 2025 spending levels until November 21, which has been a point of contention.

While a majority of Democrats, including House leaders, oppose the bill, several Republican factions seem confident that their party will largely support it.

Chip Roy, Policy Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus and a Republican from Texas, noted that he hasn’t heard any significant backlash against the bill from his colleagues. “I don’t want to speak for everyone, but I think there’s general support,” he mentioned during a media briefing. It’s interesting how optimistic some can be in this environment.

Tom Cole, the House Appropriations Committee Chairman, echoed this sentiment by stating, “It’s never easy around here. But I didn’t see any opposition… I think the vote is on our side.” Optimism is good, but will it hold?

However, because the Republican majority is so slim, they can only afford to lose two votes to pass the bill without help from Democrats. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise from Louisiana expressed hopefulness when asked about their voting numbers. “I think only a few Democrats have come to their senses. Many more will, perhaps,” he shared.

The effects of the shutdown are becoming increasingly serious. Thousands of air traffic controllers and TSA employees have been working without pay, leading many to pick up second jobs. This has contributed to flight delays and cancellations at some of the country’s busiest airports. Moreover, millions who depend on federal benefits are left worrying as funds for critical programs start drying up.

Democratic leaders refuse to support a funding bill that doesn’t also extend pandemic-era subsidies for Obamacare. Their primary concern appears to be preventing rising healthcare costs for Americans.

While Republicans are open to discussing healthcare reforms, they don’t want to tie funding priorities to partisan disagreements. The original funding bill had initially passed in the House on September 19, but it has faced multiple rejections in the Senate.

Recently, however, a new compromise has surfaced, gaining support from eight Senate Democrats, aimed at pushing the bill through. This revised bill would extend federal funding levels for fiscal year 2025 until January 30, allowing more time for a long-term solution for fiscal year 2026.

Lawmakers are expected to make progress on funding various departments, including Agriculture and the FDA, as well as initiatives related to veterans and military construction.

If Democrats manage to clinch a deal, it could reverse federal layoffs introduced by the previous administration and ensure furlough pay for affected workers. Meanwhile, a side agreement passed in the Senate guarantees a vote on strengthening Obamacare subsidies, but there hasn’t been a similar commitment in the House.

Should the bill pass Wednesday night, it will move on to President Donald Trump for approval. A White House official stated, “President Trump has wanted to reopen the government since day one of the shutdown. This progress in the Senate is encouraging, and we look forward to advancing the bill.”