Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The U.S. Senate on Monday narrowly approved a short-term government funding measure, sending the bill to the House of Representatives for a vote that could take place as early as Wednesday. The move marks the most significant progress in weeks toward ending a federal government shutdown now stretching into its 41st day.
The bipartisan measure funds the government through January 30 and provides full-year appropriations for select agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture and Veterans Affairs. The bill passed the Senate by a 60–40 margin, with a handful of Democrats joining Republicans to support the plan. Eight Democratic senators Tim Kaine, Dick Durbin, Maggie Hassan, Jeanne Shaheen, Jacky Rosen, Catherine Cortez Masto, John Fetterman, and Angus King voted in favor. Sen. Rand Paul was the sole Republican to oppose the measure.
If the House approves the bill, it will move to President Donald Trump for his signature, potentially ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
House Readies for Tight Vote and Long Night
House lawmakers are set to return to Washington on Wednesday, with the first votes scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. GOP Whip Tom Emmer has advised members to “stay tuned” for updates as multiple vote series are expected throughout the evening.
Speaker Mike Johnson indicated Monday that he hopes to bring the bill to the floor swiftly, though the timing could shift as leadership works to ensure the necessary support for passage. The vote will test both Republican unity and the willingness of Democrats to accept a stopgap measure that does not address several of their policy priorities.
Democrats Weigh Strategy on Health Care Subsidies
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Tuesday sidestepped questions about the eight Senate Democrats who sided with Republicans, saying his focus remains on “the American people” and on protecting access to affordable health care.
“This is a real issue,” Jeffries told reporters at the Capitol. “We are in the middle of this fight right now, and our focus is on trying to deliver what we can and that should include extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies.”
Jeffries confirmed that House Democrats are considering a discharge petition to force a vote on extending ACA tax credits, a procedural maneuver that would require 218 signatures, including some from Republicans, to bypass leadership and bring the measure directly to the floor. Several moderate Republicans have expressed support for a one-year extension of the subsidies, though Speaker Johnson has declined to commit to allowing such a vote.
When asked whether the prolonged shutdown had been worth the political cost, Jeffries responded, “At the end of the day, the fight lives on.”
Outlook
As the shutdown drags into its sixth week, the stakes are mounting for both parties. Federal workers remain furloughed, critical services are strained, and economic costs continue to climb. The House vote in the coming days will determine whether the government can reopen and stabilize operations, or whether partisan divisions will extend one of the most protracted fiscal standoffs in recent memory.
For now, all eyes are on Wednesday and whether weary lawmakers can muster enough bipartisan cooperation to finally end the shutdown.
