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The US House of Representatives is expected to vote on Wednesday on a spending bill that would end the nation’s longest government shutdown, as President Donald Trump celebrated a political victory while Democrats grappled with internal divisions over the deal.
The bill comes after eight Senate Democrats broke ranks on Monday to support Trump-aligned Republicans, clearing a path for the legislation to move forward.
Early on Wednesday, the House Rules Committee, which reviews bills before they reach the floor, approved the measure by eight votes to four, setting the stage for debate and a final vote in the Republican-controlled chamber.
Trump used a Veterans Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery to praise House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, declaring, “We’re opening up our country—it should have never been closed.”
He later said he expected the House to pass the bill to fund the government through January, adding that “only people that hate our country want to see it not open.”
The proposed funding measure has split Democrats, who have voiced strong opposition because it does not extend health insurance subsidies set to expire at the end of the year.
The bill is nonetheless expected to pass the House, where Republicans hold a slim majority.
Since the shutdown began, roughly a million federal workers have gone unpaid, food assistance for low-income Americans has been threatened, and thousands of flights have been delayed or cancelled ahead of Thanksgiving.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that disruptions could intensify if the shutdown continues, with airlines forced to make “serious calculations” about whether to continue operations.
The Democratic rift over the deal has been pronounced, with senior party figures criticising the concessions made under pressure.
California Governor Gavin Newsom described the situation as “pathetic,” while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has faced calls to resign for failing to keep his party united.
The dispute comes just days after Democratic election victories in New York City, New Jersey, and Virginia highlighted public concerns about affordability, particularly healthcare costs.
Republicans have promised Democrats a future vote on health insurance subsidies, though millions of Americans could see “Obamacare” premiums double without action.
The bill has also caused friction within Trump’s own coalition, with the former president publicly admonishing former ally Marjorie Taylor Greene over her criticism of the plan and its impact on healthcare costs for her children.
