House votes to end longest shutdown in US history, sending bill to Trump’s desk
43 days later, lawmakers on Capitol Hill approved a budget to fund the US government.
By a vote of 222-209, members of the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Senate bill to provide funding for Agriculture, Veterans Affairs and military construction projects for fiscal year 2026, while also extending funding for other agencies through Jan. 30, 2026.
The bill also provides back pay and protection for federal employees, including reinstatement of those laid off during the shutdown, and ensures continued funding through September 2026 for programs such as food stamps, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Additional provisions include increased security funding for officials and members of Congress.
The Senate had previously passed its version of the funding legislation by a vote of 60 in favor and 40 against.
The minimum number required for a budget bill to pass in the upper house was 60 votes.
Eight Democrats sided with Republicans in the Senate; Although Republicans hold majorities in both houses of Congress, they hold only 53 seats in the Senate, fewer than the 60 votes needed to pass a funding bill.
Both Senate Republicans and some Democrats had become uneasy about the escalating consequences of the shutdown. They wanted the government to take office again before the situation worsened.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DY) and fellow Democrats speak about the health care funding fight on the steps of the House of Representatives ahead of votes to end the government shutdown on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025
President Donald Trump leaves the stage after a campaign rally at the Forum River Center in Rome, Georgia on March 9, 2024
In this footage provided by House Television, the vote total showing the House passage of the bill ending the government shutdown is shown at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025.
Six Democrats sided with Republicans on Wednesday evening, voting to open the government.
Democratic Reps. Jared Golden of Maine, Adam Gray of California, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, Don Davis of North Carolina, Henry Cuellar of Texas and Tom Suozzi of New York were their party’s yes votes.
Gluesenkamp Perez said in a statement that she voted for the bill because “the fight to stop illegal health insurance premiums cannot be won by holding hungry Americans hostage.”
“None of my friends who rely on SNAP want to trade dinner for an obscure D.C. Beltway ‘message victory,’ and I’m glad this ugly scene is in the rearview mirror,” Gluesenkamp Perez said, referring to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Republicans Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Greg Steube of Florida were the only two members of their party who did not support the legislation.
Steube said he opposed the bill because the Senate quietly added a last-minute provision allowing eight Republican senators to sue the U.S. government for up to $500,000 after it was revealed the government had spied on those members. Although Johnson stated that a legal regulation would be made for this provision, Steube stated that he did not trust the Speaker of the Parliament to keep his word.
Asked again about the provision at the press conference following the vote to end the shutdown, Speaker Johnson said:
‘I had a conversation with Leader Thune about this issue early this morning and I think he regrets the way it was done and we had an honest conversation about it. But I will speak to him as honestly as I speak to all of you, and tell you that I think this is way out of line.’
Concerns about the shutdown ranged from delayed flights and unpaid federal workers to economic hardship and the suspension of food aid to vulnerable families.
Republicans had previously supported a short-term measure approved under the Biden administration to broadly fund the government at current levels through Nov. 21. But Democrats blocked it, arguing that the measure did not address their health care concerns.
In response to the federal government shutdown, workers and volunteers help distribute food boxes to those in need in a large-scale drive-thru food distribution
US airports comply with FAA order to cut thousands of flights per day during US Government’s 43-day shutdown
Senate Majority Leader John Thune had previously given Senate Democrats the chance to cast 14 votes to reopen the government.
Public frustration with the prolonged shutdown intensified and pressure increased for both sides to reach an agreement.
Air traffic has been hit hard, with Transport Secretary Sean Duffy saying on CNN that staffing shortages are worsening, potentially reducing air travel to a trickle.
