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House Passes Stop-Gap Bill Ending U.S. Government Shutdown

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  Published in House and Home on Wednesday, November 12th 2025 at 21:40 GMT by Associated Press

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House’s Stop‑gap Bill Brings an End to the Longest U.S. Government Shutdown, but Questions About Fiscal Discipline Remain

In a move that finally lifted the 35‑day federal shutdown that began on January 3, 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass a bill that will keep federal agencies open until the end of the current fiscal year. The measure, approved by a narrow margin of 219‑210, was crafted as a temporary “continuing resolution” that funds the government at the 2017‑2018 levels while lawmakers work on a comprehensive budget plan. Though the bill ends the immediate crisis, it also underscores the deep divisions that keep Congress from agreeing on a permanent fiscal framework.

The Short‑Term Solution

The bill – which the House calls the “Emergency Funding and Government Continuity Act” – provides for a temporary appropriation of roughly $1.3 trillion. It keeps all major federal programs operational, from Social Security and Medicare to the Department of Defense and the Internal Revenue Service. Crucially, the legislation includes a $15 billion emergency fund to cover pandemic‑related costs that had been a major point of contention during the shutdown.

Under the resolution, federal workers are paid their back wages, and the shutdown of the U.S. Postal Service, which was a separate issue, is addressed in a separate amendment. The bill also sets a sunset clause that automatically ends the appropriation on March 15, 2019, unless Congress passes a new appropriation or an extension. By doing so, lawmakers hope to avoid creating a permanent loophole that could sidestep the regular budgeting process.

Negotiation Dynamics

The bill was the result of a week‑long negotiation between House Democrats, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and a coalition of moderate Republicans who were willing to compromise on certain spending cuts. Republican Representative Jim McGovern, a former U.S. Treasury secretary, was a key figure in pushing the bill through the House. “We’ve found a way to keep our country running while we keep our fingers on the budget, and that’s what the American people deserve,” McGovern said during the vote.

House Democrats, who had faced criticism for the shutdown’s impact on federal employees and taxpayers, framed the bill as a “win for the American people.” Pelosi called it “the best deal the country has ever seen,” noting that it prevented further harm to essential services like national security and public health. In contrast, some Republican members argued that the resolution gave too much flexibility to the federal government, potentially setting a precedent for future shutdowns to be avoided with stop‑gap measures rather than negotiated appropriations.

The Congressional Context

The 35‑day shutdown remains the longest in U.S. history and the first to occur in more than a decade. It stemmed from a stalemate over the federal budget, particularly the extent of spending cuts in defense and discretionary programs, and the debate over the debt ceiling. During the shutdown, more than 800,000 federal employees were furloughed or placed on unpaid leave, and numerous agencies, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), were forced to operate at limited capacity.

The House’s resolution also includes provisions that have implications for future budget negotiations. It requires the Treasury to pay interest on the national debt even during shutdowns, which is a departure from the precedent set during earlier fiscal crises. Moreover, the bill includes a clause that mandates a 30‑day “review period” before any future appropriations can be passed, a measure intended to enforce fiscal discipline but that critics argue could delay essential funding.

Senate and Presidential Response

While the House has moved the bill forward, it still needs approval from the Senate, where a similar measure is being considered. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has indicated that the Senate will likely adopt a comparable resolution, but there are concerns about the timing, given the upcoming elections and the Senate’s control of the fiscal agenda.

President Donald Trump’s position on the bill was initially unclear. He had previously threatened to veto a similar resolution, citing concerns over the emergency fund’s size and the lack of broader fiscal reforms. In the weeks following the House vote, Trump issued a statement saying that he would sign the bill if it passed the Senate “in a way that preserves the fiscal responsibility we promised our taxpayers.” The President ultimately signed a final stop‑gap measure in early February 2018, effectively ending the shutdown and allowing the government to resume normal operations.

Looking Ahead

The passage of the Emergency Funding and Government Continuity Act underscores the fragile nature of U.S. fiscal governance. While it successfully ended a prolonged shutdown and restored normalcy to federal operations, it also highlights the ongoing political impasse that threatens future budget stability. The bill’s sunset clause and the Treasury’s new interest‑payment requirement are mechanisms that may help prevent a recurrence of a shutdown of this magnitude, but they also signal a new era where Congress may lean on temporary appropriations rather than long‑term fiscal plans.

For voters and policymakers alike, the 2018 shutdown remains a cautionary tale: a reminder that the nation’s ability to function depends on the ability of its lawmakers to reach consensus on how to spend public money. As the Senate debates the House’s resolution, the country watches to see whether a permanent solution will emerge, or whether the cycle of negotiation and compromise will continue to be the only path to keeping the lights on.