Historic Shutdown Nears End As House Set For Final Vote On Day 43
The longest government shutdown in U.S. history, now on its 43rd day, is poised to end as the House of Representatives prepares for a final vote on a funding bill passed by the Senate. The bipartisan measure, which received a 60-40 approval in the Senate on Monday, brings Congress one step closer to ending the political impasse that has caused widespread disruptions across the nation.
The powerful House Rules Committee advanced the bill early Wednesday morning, rejecting several Democratic amendments, including a key provision aimed at extending expiring health insurance subsidies. The legislation extends funding for most federal agencies until January 30, while also providing three full-year appropriations bills for select parts of the government.
House Republicans have expressed confidence that the package will clear the lower chamber. President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law immediately upon passage, which would officially conclude the record-breaking shutdown.
Travel Disruptions Mount as Lawmakers Return
In anticipation of the crucial vote, Speaker Mike Johnson instructed members of the House to return to Washington, D.C., as soon as possible on Monday, citing significant travel delays plaguing airports across the country. Neither the House nor the Senate was in session Tuesday due to the Veterans Day holiday.
The shutdown’s impact on air travel continued to escalate. To comply with an order from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), airlines were expected to cancel 6% of their flights on Tuesday across 40 of the busiest U.S. airports, an increase from the earlier 4% cutbacks. These service reductions are due to the growing strain on air traffic control and airport operations as federal employees work without pay.
The expected final vote in the House comes after weeks of gridlock, with the focus now shifting to the president’s desk to reopen the government and mitigate the mounting financial and public safety impacts of the historic closure.
READ MORE: Cash Relief For Controllers, But Air Travel Chaos Will Outlast Shutdown
READ MORE: Emmer Unleashed: Vows To Reform ‘Unaffordable Care Act,’ Rips Dems For ‘Nonsense’ Shutdown
READ MORE: GOP Links Key ACA Funding Extension To Abortion Restrictions, Setting Up Congressional Showdown
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