The House is moving to reopen the federal government after a bipartisan funding deal cleared a major procedural hurdle, with Republicans united and Democrats opposing the measure. Lawmakers pushed through the Rules Committee after an overnight hearing, setting up a full House vote that GOP leaders expect will send the bill to the president. The package would restore pay, cover key agencies and extend temporary funding while talks continue on a long-term solution.
The Rules Committee approved the minibus measure in an overnight session where every Republican backed it and Democrats voted against it. That step is meaningful: it allows the House to consider the bill on the floor and move toward a final vote to end what has become the longest shutdown in modern history. GOP leaders have signaled confidence the measure will pass the full House with broad Republican support.
The hearing ran into the early morning hours and included tough exchanges across the aisle as Democrats pushed amendments on health subsidies and other priorities. House Democrats tried several times to attach changes, including an extension of COVID-era enhanced Obamacare subsidies, but those amendments were rejected. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries made a surprise appearance to argue for his amendment to extend those subsidies for another three years.
On the GOP side, Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx pushed back on criticism that Republicans had been idle, saying plainly, “I am sick and tired of hearing you all say we had an eight-week vacation.” Lawmakers on the Republican side cast the bill as a pragmatic move to reopen services and protect federal workers, while accusing Democrats of playing politics rather than negotiating in good faith. That tone underscored the divide even as the measure advanced.
A controversial provision in the funding text would let GOP senators seek $500,000 in damages if their phone records were secretly obtained during the investigation led by ex-Special Counsel Jack Smith. Some members voiced concern that this language looks self-serving. “I think there’s gonna be a lot of people, if they look and understand this, they’re going to see it as self-serving, self-dealing kind of stuff. And I don’t think that’s right,” Rep. Chip Roy said as he weighed options for forcing a change without derailing the package.
On procedural next steps, the House is set for a rule vote that will clear debate on the actual bill, followed by a potential final vote Wednesday evening to send the funding measure to the president. The Senate already broke through its own gridlock with a 60-40 vote that included eight Democrats joining Republicans, paving the way for reopening. President Trump has indicated support, telling reporters, “We’ll be opening up our country very quickly.”
The minibus keeps FY2025 funding levels in place through Jan. 30, buying negotiators more time to craft FY2026 appropriations. It funds several departments now, including agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction, and the legislative branch, bundling three of the 12 appropriations into a single package. The move is meant to stabilize critical operations while Congress works on a longer-term plan.
Beyond the political wrangling, the shutdown has produced real impacts: air travel snarls from controllers and TSA staff working without pay, and millions of Americans temporarily uncertain about federal food benefits. The deal reverses recent federal furloughs and requires back pay for those workers, which Democrats counted as a victory in negotiations. A separate Senate side deal also secures a vote on extending those enhanced health subsidies, though Speaker Mike Johnson has not promised a similar House path.
Lawmakers now face a clear choice: pass the stopgap to reopen government and protect federal employees, or risk prolonging the disruptions that have hit airports, benefits programs and public services. The House will decide whether to approve the Rules Committee’s work and move the measure to the president’s desk, keeping the focus on reopening operations quickly and restoring pay for those caught in the political fight.
