Congress to Vote on Funding Bill to End U.S. Shutdown

The US House of Representatives is expected to vote on a bill passed by the Senate late Wednesday to fund the federal government through January 30 and end the record shutdown. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Republican leaders are “very optimistic about tonight’s vote tally.” If the legislation passes, it will only need final approval from US President Donald Trump, who has said he will sign it. This means that, barring any last-minute disruptions, Washington’s 43-day stalemate is coming to an end.

congress deadlocked on October 1, when Democrats demanded that a funding bill ensure an extension of support for the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA), which helps millions of people afford health insurance. Republicans rejected the request and refused to negotiate with Democrats until after the government reopened.

The US House of Representatives is expected to vote on a bill passed by the Senate late Wednesday to fund the federal government through January 30 and end the record shutdown. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Republican leaders are “very optimistic about tonight’s vote tally.” If the legislation passes, it will only need final approval from US President Donald Trump, who has said he will sign it. This means that, barring any last-minute disruptions, Washington’s 43-day stalemate is coming to an end.

Congress deadlocked on October 1, when Democrats demanded that a funding bill ensure an extension of support for the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA), which helps millions of people afford health insurance. Republicans rejected the request and refused to negotiate with Democrats until after the government reopened.

But progress was finally made over the weekend, when eight centrist Democrats broke party ranks to reach a deal. The new package, which passed the Senate on Monday, will fund the government through Jan. 30 and some key agencies through the remainder of fiscal year 2026. That means if Washington shuts down again over the next few months, basic federal food aid, known as SNAP, will continue to be funded.

This legislation does not include Democrats’ primary request to extend the PHC Act’s enhanced tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Instead, Senate Republicans confirmed, as part of the agreement, that they would hold a vote in December on the issue. However, Johnson has not agreed to hold a vote, making an extension unlikely.

Read more in today’s Global Brief: Congress is preparing to end the record-breaking US lockdown.