The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday (November 12, 2025) approved a deal ending the longest government shutdown in the nation’s history, which lasted 43 days due to disagreements between Republicans and Democrats.
The House approved the government reopening bill introduced by the Senate on Monday by a vote of 222-209, with six Democrats voting in favor and two Republicans voting against it.
The measure will now be transferred to the Oval Office, where US President Donald Trump called the press at 9:45 p.m. The agreement will be signed in front of cameras at 2:45 GMT, ending the longest shutdown in the country’s history.
Six Democrats joined Republicans in passing the bill. The only two Republicans to vote against it were Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Rep. Greg Steube of Florida.
“History reminds us that government shutdowns never change the outcome, only the sacrifices made by the American people,” said Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), chairman of the Appropriations Committee. “In the past 43 days, the facts have not changed, the votes needed have not changed, and the path forward has not changed.”
Hardline Democrats criticized the approved bill for not including an extension of federal health benefits from Obamacare that are set to expire at the end of the year.
Measures also include reinstatement of employment for those who were laid off.
Meanwhile, New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez asserted that the Trump administration committed “atrocities” against Americans during the shutdown, including attempting to cut off all federal funding for food stamps, which approximately 42 million residents depend on.
The bill approved by the House on Wednesday includes a spending package that will fund the government through January and three separate spending bills that will cover programs related to agriculture, military construction, veterans affairs, and legislative bodies through most of 2026.
In addition, US media reported that the Republican Party had “secretly” added a provision that would allow the ruling party to sue the government for at least $500,000 over its investigation into the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
The package includes provisions to reverse federal employee layoffs made during the government shutdown and guarantee retroactive pay to furloughed employees.
Various federal agencies are asking employees in advance to return to work this Thursday, as the shutdown expires after President Trump signs it tonight.
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