After a record-breaking 43-day shutdown, a funding bill to reopen the U.S. government is heading to President Trump's desk after being passed by the House on Wednesday. The House voted 222-209 to approve the spending package, bringing an end to a prolonged stalemate that gripped Capitol Hill.
The legislation extends funding for most agencies until January 30, 2026 and includes three full-year funding bills for specific government sectors. These include funding for military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Agriculture and FDA, and operations for the legislative branch.
The Senate had approved the legislation on Monday, with eight Democrats joining Republicans to break the gridlock in the upper chamber. House Speaker Mike Johnson had urged members to return to Washington in anticipation of the vote. The White House voiced its support for the funding package, urging lawmakers to support the bill. They pledged that the president would sign it into law should it reach his desk.
While the agreement brings relief to many, it also sets the stage for another potential funding clash in early 2026. Most House Democrats opposed the legislation because it did not address expiring healthcare tax credits, which were a central issue in the party's shutdown demands. Senate Democrats were promised a vote on the issue by mid-December as part of the deal with Republicans.
The shutdown had far-reaching consequences, impacting federal employees and various services. More than one million federal employees who were furloughed or had to work without pay during the shutdown will receive regular paychecks and back pay for the missed payments. The bill also cancels more than 4,000 layoffs issued during the funding lapse and guarantees that no additional reductions in force will occur through January. Employees who were issued RIFs, including those from the Departments of Commerce, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, and Treasury, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, will be called back.
The agreement also addresses specific concerns related to the Veterans Affairs Department. It sets a staffing floor for the Veterans Crisis Line at the current workforce level. The VA is required to update Congress within 90 days on its progress toward creating a new staffing model to ensure timely delivery of healthcare, benefits, and other services.
The funding bill reflects staffing cuts within the USDA and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The salaries account within USDA and FDA was reduced by $415 million compared to fiscal year 2025 to reflect staffing changes implemented by the Trump administration.
