The House of Representatives is expected to approve a funding bill Wednesday that would end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The measure extends funding levels for much of the government through Jan. 30 and packages three appropriation bills that fully fund some federal programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through Sept. 30, 2026. SNAP — which serves nearly 42 million people — had been tied up in a court fight amid the shutdown.
The Senate passed the legislation late Monday, with seven Democrats and one Independent joining most Republicans. The bill also includes a provision to reverse layoffs imposed by the Trump administration during the shutdown.
Many Democrats criticized the deal because it does not resolve the central dispute that sparked the shutdown: expiring health care subsidies. As part of the compromise, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., agreed to hold a vote by mid-December on legislation Democrats will draft to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits. While some Republicans say action is needed to prevent steep premium increases for subsidy recipients, it’s unclear whether there are enough GOP votes in the Senate to pass such a bill, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has not guaranteed a House vote.
New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a moderate who helped negotiate the deal, said the shutdown increased pressure on Republicans to negotiate a health care solution and warned voters would hold them accountable in next year’s midterms if they fail to act. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged House Democrats to oppose the package, calling it a partisan Republican bill that “continues to gut the health care of the American people.”
Supporters argue the shutdown’s disruptions — including staffing shortages that caused flight delays and interrupted government services — will politically damage Democrats who blocked bills to reopen the government. President Trump, however, suggested after recent GOP election losses that the shutdown harmed his party.
With the midterm elections about a year away, it remains uncertain how much the record-long shutdown will influence voters, particularly if economic concerns persist.
