The longest U.S. government shutdown in history officially ended on Wednesday after President Donald Trump signed a funding bill negotiated by Republicans and a handful of moderate Democrats.
His signature comes closer to the end of the second government shutdown he has overseen from the White House, further widening partisan divisions in Washington as his administration took unprecedented unilateral actions, including canceling projects and laying off federal employees, to pressure Democrats to stick to their demands.
The record 43-day closure has caused financial stress for federal workers without pay, left many travelers stranded at airports and led to long lines at some food banks.
The signing ceremony took place just hours after the House passed the bill on a near party-line vote of 222-209. The Senate had already passed the bill on Monday.
The shutdown began after Democrats refused to agree to a short-term spending bill that did not include an extension of expiring enhanced tax credits that lower the cost of health insurance obtained through the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces.
Without enhanced tax credits, insurance premiums for millions of Americans would more than double on average. More than 2 million people will lose health insurance coverage completely next year, the Congressional Budget Office has predicted.
The bill is the result of an agreement reached by eight senators who split with Democrats after they concluded that Republicans would not budge on the issue.
The frustration and pressure created by the government shutdown was reflected as lawmakers debated spending measures on the House floor.
Republicans said Democrats aim to use the pain caused by the government shutdown to win policy debates.
“They knew it would be painful and they did it anyway,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Democrats said Republicans rushed to pass a tax cut bill earlier this year that they said would primarily benefit the wealthy. But the bill, introduced in the House on Wednesday, leaves families swinging in the wind with “zero guarantees that expanding tax credits to help ordinary people pay for health care will be voted on,” Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern said.
Democratic Party Chairman Hakeem Jeffries said his party would not give up on extending the subsidy even if the vote didn’t go their way.
“This fight is not over yet,” Jeffries said. “We’re just getting started.”
What’s on my bill?
The compromise would fund three annual spending bills and extend remaining government funding through Jan. 30. Republicans have promised a vote on extending health care subsidies by mid-December, but there is no guarantee of success.
The bill includes reversing federal employee layoffs carried out by the Trump administration since the start of the government shutdown. It also protects federal workers from further layoffs through January and guarantees their pay once the shutdown ends.
The USDA bill means people who rely on major food assistance programs will be able to receive those benefits through the rest of the budget year without fear of interruption.
The plan includes $203.5 million to strengthen security for lawmakers and an additional $28 million for security for Supreme Court justices.
Democrats also criticized language in the bill that would give senators the opportunity to sue if federal agencies or employees search electronic records without notice, allowing for potential damages of up to $500,000 for each violation.
The language appears intended to allow Republican senators to pursue damages if their phone records are analyzed by the FBI as part of an investigation into President Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. The provision also drew criticism from Republicans. “I’m very angry about this,” Johnson said.
“It was put forward at the last minute and neither I nor most members of the House of Commons appreciated it,” Johnson said, pledging to vote on the issue as early as next week.
It’s unclear whether the two parties will be able to find any common ground on health care before the Senate vote in December. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he did not intend to take up the issue on the floor.
Some Republican lawmakers say they are open to extending pandemic-era tax credits, but also want new limits on who can receive the subsidies. Some argue that taxes for plans should be channeled through individuals, rather than going directly to insurance companies.
House Democrats expressed deep skepticism that the Senate’s efforts would lead to a breakthrough.
Additional sources of information • AP