The US House of Representatives is expected to vote today, Wednesday 12/11, on a temporary funding package to end the longest government shutdown in the country’s history. The package aims to restart essential services, including food assistance, salary payments to hundreds of thousands of federal employees, and restoration of the affected air traffic control system.
Republicans currently hold a narrow 219-213 seat majority in the House, however President Donald Trump’s support for the bill is expected to ensure party unity against fierce Democratic opposition, who accuse the Senate of failing to secure an agreement to extend federal healthcare subsidies.
US shutdown: “Donald Trump and Republicans believe the cost of living crisis is manufactured”
On Monday, eight Democratic senators broke with their party leadership and voted for the bill, which extends federal government funding until January 30. The measure, however, leaves the country continuing to add approximately $1.8 trillion annually to the already explosive $38 trillion public debt.
“My urgent appeal to all my colleagues in the House — and this applies to every Democrat — is to think carefully, pray, and ultimately do the right thing,” said Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who kept the chamber in recess for nearly two months as a pressure tactic in negotiations to end the shutdown.
House Democrats remain firmly opposed, expressing anger over the Senate agreement, which came just days after their electoral successes in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York – victories they believed strengthened their chances of securing healthcare subsidy extensions. While the agreement provides for a new Senate vote on the issue in December, Johnson has not committed to doing the same in the House.
“Donald Trump and Republicans believe the cost of living crisis is manufactured. That’s why these extremists have done absolutely nothing to reduce the excessive cost of living. Americans deserve better,” said House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries in a social media post on Wednesday.
If approved by the House, the bill will be sent to President Trump for signature, with Trump already hailing the Senate vote on Tuesday as “a very big victory.”
