CaliToday (13/11/2025): The longest and most painful government shutdown in American history is set to end tonight, after the House of Representatives passed a stopgap funding bill Wednesday, sending the legislation to President Donald Trump's desk.
The President has indicated his full support for the plan and is expected to sign it into law immediately, concluding a grueling 40-plus-day crisis that began in early October over a fierce budget impasse.
"We believe this long national nightmare will end TONIGHT!" declared a triumphant House Speaker Mike Johnson, adding that the shutdown was "ultimately, completely stupid and pointless."
The breakthrough comes just two days after the Senate approved the same package on Monday, November 11. In a crucial move, seven Democrats and one independent broke with their party to join Republicans, overcoming the filibuster and signaling the end of the partisan logjam.
Johnson Blames Democrats for "Nightmare"
In a fiery press conference, Speaker Johnson, who has been praised by the MAGA wing of his party for "holding the line," offered an apology to the American people while placing the blame for the crisis squarely on the Democratic party.
"We apologize for the canceled and delayed flights; we apologize to those who suffered food insecurity; we apologize to our troops and federal employees who were worried about their pay," Johnson said. "All of that was the fault of the Democrats."
"They voted 15 times in the House and Senate to shut your government down," Johnson continued. "Republicans tried every single day to open it back up... They have a lot to answer for."
What's in the Bill (And What Isn't)
The legislation is a temporary fix, not a comprehensive budget deal. It will keep the government open until at least January 30, 2026.
The bill also extends funding for several key programs through the end of September, including vital services such as food stamps and veterans benefits, which were at risk of lapsing.
However, the bill represents a significant concession from Democrats. The legislation does not include a guaranteed extension of federal health care subsidies, which had been the party's single biggest demand throughout the standoff.
Instead, Republican leaders in the Senate have only pledged to allow a separate vote on the subsidies at an unspecified date in the near future. Democrats have signaled they will try to force a similar vote in the House, but the path forward remains uncertain.
With the government set to reopen, Speaker Johnson vowed that Congress would finally pivot to other critical issues. "We apologize that it took this long," he said, "Now, we're going to get back to the people's business and deliver an aggressive legislative schedule for the rest of 2025."