House Votes to Reopen Government Amid Heated Debates and Senate Deal
The House reconvened on Wednesday to vote on reopening the government, with the procedural vote scheduled for 5 p.m. and the passage vote expected around 7 p.m. Both Republicans and Democrats engaged in heated debates on the House floor prior to the vote. Rep. Tim Moore expressed confidence in the bill's passage, anticipating support from moderate Democrats. Speaker Mike Johnson apologized to Americans affected by the shutdown and criticized Democrats for the situation.
In addition to funding the government, the bill includes a provision allowing Senators to sue the DOJ for previous subpoenas, which surprised Speaker Johnson. Despite his shock, Johnson believed Senate Majority Leader John Thune did not intend malice and planned to draft a separate bill to remove the provision. President Trump expressed support for the Senate deal, emphasizing a quick reopening of the country. The funding bill, which passed the Senate, advanced through the House Rules Committee and is now set for consideration by the full House.
The Senate deal to end the government shutdown received a 60-40 vote, with support from Republicans and a group of eight Democrats. The bill will reopen the government until Jan. 30, reversing President Trump's firings of federal employees during the shutdown and ensuring backpay for workers. Despite the deal, millions of Americans continue to be impacted by the shutdown, with flight cancellations and delays affecting major U.S. airports. The Supreme Court extended an order blocking full SNAP payments, which is set to expire just before midnight on Thursday.
As the government prepares to reopen, SNAP aid payments are expected to resume, providing assistance to 42 million Americans for affording groceries. The timeline for the payments' resumption post-reopening remains uncertain. The House is poised to vote on the funding bill, signaling progress towards ending the nation's longest government shutdown.