Congress Set to End the Longest U.S. Government Shutdown

Wed Nov 12 2025 18:20:24 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

House lawmakers return to Washington after nearly eight weeks away to vote on a measure to end the government shutdown, which has left many federal employees without pay and affected public services.

After nearly eight weeks of absence, House lawmakers are expected to vote on a Senate-passed bill to end the historic federal government shutdown. Speaker Mike Johnson asserts the proposal is crucial to alleviate the struggles faced by federal employees and vulnerable citizens due to service interruptions. While Republicans largely back the measure, the absence of key Democratic provisions may lead to significant opposition within the party. The upcoming vote represents a pivotal moment in Congress as it seeks to restore normal operations and address urgent concerns from various sectors.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House lawmakers will make a return to the nation’s capital on Wednesday after being away for nearly eight weeks to vote on a measure that could end the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history.

The House is set to address a bill designed to reopen the government, already passed by the Senate on Monday night. President Donald Trump has characterized the measure as a very big victory, and it is anticipated that the Republican-led House will approve it. However, complications may arise from expected travel delays linked to the shutdown. Speaker Mike Johnson might rely on perfect attendance from Republicans to ensure the bill passes.

Legislative sessions have been absent since September 19, when the House last addressed a short-term funding patch for the new budget year. Following that vote, Johnson sent lawmakers home to allow the Senate to take charge of the negotiations, insisting that House Republicans had fulfilled their responsibilities.

Democrats have criticized Republicans, labeling them as negligent during a time that left federal employees unpaid, disrupted travel, and caused food assistance benefits to expire. Johnson asserted that member were performing vital tasks within their districts during the break.

The Democratic majority is expected to oppose the measure since it lacks provisions for extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits that are set to expire by year-end. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated strong opposition among his party members when previewing the vote.

Johnson has made declarations of relief regarding the legislation, referring to it as a conclusion to the national crisis inflicted by the shutdown. He remarked, After 40 days of wandering in the wilderness, some Senate Democrats stepped forward to end the pain.\

Grassroots concerns have increased throughout the shutdown's 43 days, with the Senate's proposal encompassing bipartisan spending bills and extending government funding through January 30, alongside a commitment to vote on healthcare subsidies by mid-December. The legislation aims to halt federal worker layoffs and secure payment for employees once the shutdown concludes.

While some Republicans have expressed a willingness to consider extending the health care tax credits, it remains unclear if there can be a collaborative resolution before the envisioned December vote. The outcome of the current negotiations will determine future healthcare policies as lawmakers navigate these critical discussions.