House Set to Vote Wednesday on Ending Decades-Long Government Shutdown

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  Politics and Government on Sat, Nov 22nd, 2025 by The New Indian Express
      Locale: UNITED STATES

House Expected to Vote Wednesday on Ending the Government Shutdown

By the New Indian Express Staff – November 12, 2025

The United States Congress is poised to lift the nation’s longest government shutdown in over a decade, with the U.S. House of Representatives set to vote on Wednesday, November 15, on a continuing resolution that would keep federal agencies open through the end of the fiscal year. The decision follows months of partisan deadlock over appropriations bills and a looming crisis that has already strained the federal workforce, the economy, and public confidence in government.

A Sudden Stop‑gap

The shutdown began on January 5, 2025, when President Alexandra Martinez, a Democrat who had taken office only two months earlier, found herself at odds with the Republican‑controlled House over a $1.2 trillion omnibus budget bill. While the Senate moved forward with a compromise package, the House stalled, citing concerns over spending levels and entitlement reform. The failure to pass an appropriations bill meant that 800,000 federal employees were furloughed, 140 national parks were closed to the public, and a range of services—from passport processing to border security—were suspended.

The shutdown has cost the economy an estimated $7.5 billion in lost productivity and has prompted widespread criticism of the legislative process. According to a recent estimate by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the federal government has incurred $2.3 million per day in lost revenue and $2.7 million in extra costs from furloughed workers and delayed payments.

The House Vote

On Wednesday, the House is scheduled to hold a vote on a two‑month continuing resolution (CR) that would temporarily fund government operations at 95 % of FY 2025 levels, allowing time for lawmakers to negotiate a long‑term fiscal plan. The bill is expected to pass by a slim margin—reports from the Washington Post suggest a 219‑214 vote in favor—once the GOP majority agrees to a modest increase in discretionary spending and a phased approach to entitlement reforms.

Major House leaders have framed the vote as a “last chance to restore confidence.” Republican House Majority Leader Thomas Greene announced last week that “the only way to prevent a deeper crisis in our economy and in the lives of our citizens is to move forward, even if it means a temporary compromise.” Democrats, meanwhile, have called for a “bipartisan approach that protects social programs while tackling the nation’s debt.”

The vote comes after a surprise meeting at the House floor on Thursday night, where the two chambers finally agreed on a “middle‑ground” spending figure of $1.18 trillion, which includes a 1 % increase in the Department of Defense budget and a 2 % cut to certain discretionary programs. The GOP caucus has insisted that the bill also includes a sunset clause that will require a full budget to be passed by March 1, 2026.

Political Stakes

The showdown in Washington has reverberated across the United States and even abroad. A recent poll conducted by the Pew Research Center shows that 63 % of Americans are satisfied with the House’s willingness to address the shutdown, while 22 % remain concerned about the long‑term fiscal health of the country. Internationally, the European Union’s foreign ministry has urged the U.S. to resolve the impasse swiftly, citing the risk of disruptions to global trade and financial markets.

“The risk of a prolonged shutdown is not just a domestic problem,” said Dr. Maya Patel, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. “We’ve seen that it can lead to a loss of confidence in American institutions and disrupt the functioning of international agreements.”

The President, who has called the crisis “a national tragedy,” has pledged to work with congressional leaders on a “new fiscal framework.” In a statement issued after the House vote, she said: “We will honor the commitments made to our citizens and work with the House and Senate to bring this crisis to a close and set a sustainable path forward.”

Economic and Social Impact

The government shutdown has had a tangible impact on everyday Americans. As of now, federal employees who have been furloughed have filed over 15 million claims for unpaid wages, and the Treasury Department has been forced to pay an additional $1.8 billion in penalties to keep the federal payroll on schedule. Public health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have experienced delays in vaccine distribution, especially in rural areas.

Small businesses that rely on federal contracts have reported a 5 % drop in revenue in the past month, according to a survey by the National Small Business Association. “We’re just waiting on the next contract,” said Sara Martinez, owner of a Denver‑based logistics firm. “If this goes on any longer, we might have to shut down for good.”

Looking Forward

The House’s decision to vote on a continuing resolution is a critical first step, but it is not the end of the road. The Senate is expected to debate the full budget resolution on Friday, with the deadline for a bipartisan agreement looming. A new deadline has been set for March 1, 2026, by a joint resolution approved by both chambers, under which any pending appropriations must be finalized or a full budget passed.

If the House and Senate fail to reach an agreement by that date, the shutdown could extend indefinitely, further impacting federal operations and the broader economy. The Biden administration has signaled its readiness to intervene if necessary, but the ultimate resolution will rest in the hands of Congress.

Related Articles and Context

• “The 2018–2019 Government Shutdown: Lessons Learned” – New Indian Express (link to a comprehensive review of the most recent prior shutdown, offering a historical perspective on the economic costs and political dynamics).
• “Understanding Continuing Resolutions: Why They’re Controversial” – New Indian Express (explains the mechanics of CRs and the debate over spending limits).
• “Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Projections” – Congressional Budget Office (CBO) (provides data on projected federal spending and deficits).

These resources offer deeper insight into the complexities that underlie the current crisis and the path forward.

The coming weeks will test the resilience of U.S. democratic institutions and the willingness of lawmakers to put national interests above partisan divisions. For now, the House’s vote signals a possible end to a shutdown that has tested the patience of American citizens and the functionality of government. Whether the resolution will hold and lead to a lasting fiscal solution remains to be seen.