US House Speaker Mike Johnson said the House will vote “as soon as possible” after a Sunday Senate vote opened the door to reopening the federal government. Johnson told reporters he will give House members 36 hours’ notice pending a final Senate vote and urged members to start returning to Washington “right now.”
Johnson praised the seven Senate Democrats and one independent who joined Republicans in the 60-40 vote that could begin to end the longest government shutdown in US history. President Donald Trump also endorsed the deal, calling it “very good.”
Among Democrats who sided with Republicans were Senators Dick Durbin (Illinois), Jacky Rosen (Nevada), Tim Kaine (Virginia), Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen (both of New Hampshire), along with Independent Angus King (Maine), and previously defecting Democrats Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada) and John Fetterman (Pennsylvania).
The legislation would provide funding to reopen government operations and finance programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It ensures back pay for furloughed federal workers and largely funds operations at current levels through a stopgap measure running to January 30.
Absent from the package is a clear resolution for expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies that Democrats have prioritized. That debate was deferred to a December vote, weeks before the subsidies are due to expire, prompting concern among experts and advocates that an extension may not pass.
“If they can’t do this, voters will be even more cynical,” said Lindsay Owens, executive director of the Groundwork Collaborative. A Kaiser Family Foundation analysis warned that if subsidies lapse, average premiums for those buying insurance through the ACA Marketplace could more than double.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries vowed to keep pushing to extend ACA subsidies, calling it “a patriotic fight” and noting that more registered Republicans than Democrats rely on the tax credits. Republican strategist Adolfo Franco suggested that Democrats might control the narrative by putting forward the bill in December and said some Republicans support extending the subsidies, making passage more likely.
Trump also commented on healthcare negotiations, saying, “We want healthcare where we pay money to people, not healthcare companies.”
Air travel continued to be disrupted despite progress toward reopening. Airlines canceled more than 1,000 US flights on Monday as air traffic staffing shortages and unpaid, overworked controllers called in sick. Johnson said controllers were under stress and struggling to provide for their families. Trump said he would dock pay for controllers who do not return and offer a $10,000 bonus to those who stayed on the job through the shutdown.
Markets reacted positively to the prospect of an end to the shutdown. As of late morning in New York, the Nasdaq and S&P 500 were up, while the Dow remained relatively flat.
