US lawmakers vote on bill that could end biggest government shutdown in history

After 42 days of a partial U.S. government shutdown, lawmakers must vote today on a bill that could end the so-called “government shutdown.” House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, believes he has enough votes to approve the package and end the impasse that has left thousands of workers without pay and affected public services across the country.

Luciana RosaRFI correspondent in New York

After 42 days of a partial U.S. government shutdown, lawmakers must vote today on a bill that could end the so-called “government shutdown.” House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, believes he has enough votes to approve the package, putting thousands of workers without pay and ending the impasse that is affecting public services across the country.

The House Rules Committee met on Tuesday night to analyze the document already approved by the Senate and approve a plenary vote scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Washington time (6:00 p.m. in Brasilia). The strike lasted 42 days, making it the longest in U.S. history.

The bill would guarantee full funding for some federal agencies through the end of the fiscal year and extend funding for others through the end of January. If approved, the document would end a “shutdown” that has paralyzed public services, delayed payments and disrupted airports across the country.

Mike Johnson is optimistic and has the backing of US President Donald Trump, who called the deal “very good.” Republican ultra-conservative freedom caucusalso declared it satisfied because the text does not renew Obamacare subsidies, a health care program created during President Barack Obama’s administration.

Ahead of the Rules Committee meeting, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized Republicans, pledging to continue fighting America’s rising health care costs and insisting that the bill include a renewal of Obamacare subsidies. Jeffries said he expects Democratic lawmakers to “strongly oppose” the Senate-approved document because it does not guarantee the continuation of those benefits.

Moreover, voting has more logical than political challenges. After a nearly 50-day recess, members of Congress were quickly summoned to return to Washington, where many are facing flight cancellations and flight delays precisely because of the “shutdown.” That’s why some MPs even return to the capital on motorbikes. Derrick Van Orden, a Republican congressman from Wisconsin, decided to make the 16-hour trip to Washington on his Harley-Davidson.

Senate confirmation mired in controversy

The exclusion of one of Democrats’ key demands, renewing Obamacare subsidies, caused tension within the party. Progressive lawmakers have accused their eight colleagues who voted for the bill (seven Democrats and one independent) of making too many concessions to break the deadlock. They have been accused of “treason” and “blunders” by some of the party’s most influential figures.

Meanwhile, senators say there is an urgent need to end the crisis, as the “shutdown” has left workers unpaid, delayed flights and threatened food assistance programs.

Approximately 700,000 federal civil servants work without pay. An additional 600,000 people have left their homes since the start of the “shutdown” on October 1st. Only operations deemed essential, such as air traffic control, continued to operate. However, after weeks of continued overload in the aviation sector, conditions began to jeopardize aviation safety, and the Federal Aviation Administration partially suspended operations at some of the nation’s major airports.

More than 1,200 flights were canceled and more than 2,000 were delayed across the United States this Tuesday. New York’s LaGuardia Airport experienced a chaotic day. According to FlightAware data, 11% of flights (214 total) were canceled and nearly 40% were delayed.