The US House of Representatives is gearing up for a pivotal vote on Wednesday that could finally end the longest government shutdown in US history.
On day 42 of the shutdown, lawmakers are returning to Washington to consider a Senate-approved spending plan that would fund federal agencies for the next two months.
Republican leaders remain confident their narrow majority will pass the bill, while Democrats have promised to oppose it. President Donald Trump has pledged to sign it into law, stating at a Veterans Day event in Arlington, Virginia, “We’re opening up our country. Should have never been closed.”
The shutdown, which began on October 1, has left around a million federal workers unpaid, halted food assistance for low-income families, and disrupted air travel just ahead of Thanksgiving. Nearly 1,200 flights were canceled on Tuesday as many air traffic controllers called in sick due to the funding deadlock.
Some lawmakers have gone to extreme lengths to reach Washington. Congressman Rick Crawford of Arkansas shared on X that he was carpooling with fellow Republican Trent Kelly of Mississippi, while Congressman Derrick Van Orden from Wisconsin embarked on a 16-hour ride to the capital on his Harley Davidson.
The House Rules Committee advanced the bill in a party-line 8-4 vote early Wednesday, rejecting Democratic amendments that sought to extend expiring health insurance subsidies. The full House is set to reconvene at 4:00 PM EST (9:00 PM GMT) for one hour of debate before voting.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the plan, accusing Republicans of ignoring the rising cost of living for everyday Americans. Democrats have pushed for extending tax credits that make healthcare more affordable for 24 million Americans, but Republicans have refused to attach this provision, offering only a future vote in December—a step that may not even clear the Senate.
With the stakes high and millions affected, all eyes are on the House vote to determine when federal agencies will finally reopen.
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