Government Funding Approved
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation to fund the government until January 30, thereby concluding the longest government shutdown in history. The bill passed with a vote of 222 to 209. Six Democrats joined Republican members in supporting the bill, while two Republicans voted against it. President Trump is expected to sign the legislation, which will enable federal employees to return to work.
Provisions of the Bill
The approved bill maintains the previous year's spending levels for most government operations through January and extends funding for certain agencies, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), until the end of September. The legislation also includes measures to reverse layoffs implemented during the shutdown, ensure backpay for federal employees, and establish protections against future workforce reductions.
Unresolved ACA Subsidies
The legislation does not address the issue of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, which are scheduled to expire at the end of the year. As part of an agreement reached with a bipartisan group of senators, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) committed to holding a vote in mid-December on Democrat-proposed legislation aimed at extending these subsidies. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) stated that the "handshake deal" without a firm guarantee to lower costs was insufficient, leading her to vote against the measure. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has not guaranteed that such a bill, if passed by the Senate, would be brought to the House floor for a vote.
Impact of the Shutdown
The shutdown affected numerous Americans. Approximately 42 million participants in the SNAP program did not receive scheduled food aid. Air traffic controllers and most Transportation Security Administration employees continued working without pay, resulting in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordering a reduction in flights. Millions of federal workers experienced unpaid leave. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) stated that delaying a resolution would not guarantee a better outcome but would certainly increase suffering for individuals.
Political Context and Future Steps
Senate Democrats had previously linked government funding to the extension of ACA subsidies. This approach did not lead to Republicans altering their stance on funding the government. Senator Thune consistently stated that negotiations on expiring subsidies would occur only after the government was funded. President Trump maintained a limited role, allowing Senator Thune to lead the Republican strategy.
Looking ahead, Senate Democrats have approximately one month to develop legislation addressing the ACA subsidies that could secure sufficient Republican support for passage. Congress also faces the task of passing nine additional appropriations bills before the current continuing resolution expires.