The US House of Representatives has begun voting on a legislation that could end the longest government shutdown in US history, with Democrats voicing frustration over the Senate-brokered compromise failing to extend expiring healthcare subsidies.
The measure's passage would be a welcome relief for President Donald Trump, who is eager to bring an end to the 50-day shutdown. The bill, which has been narrowly approved by two procedural votes, aims to fund the federal government through January and includes provisions to stop mass federal firings and reverse dismissals that occurred during the shutdown.
However, Democrats are still deeply divided over the proposal, with many calling it a betrayal and vowing to vote against it. The House minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, has stated his "strong expectation" of a Democratic opposition, while influential progressive groups have even called for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to resign.
The shutdown has had severe consequences, with hundreds of thousands of furloughed federal workers missing paychecks and millions of Americans at risk of losing food assistance. The bill's failure to extend the healthcare subsidies has sparked fury among Democrats, who fear that millions of people will face sharp rises in their healthcare premiums or lose their marketplace coverage entirely.
Despite these divisions, Republican leaders are optimistic that the legislation will pass quickly, with a mere two-vote margin to accommodate losses. President Trump has congratulated Republican Speaker Mike Johnson on the Senate bill, calling it "a very big victory" and praising his efforts to reopen the government. The bill's fate remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the US is holding its breath as the country teeters on the brink of a prolonged political crisis.
The measure's passage would be a welcome relief for President Donald Trump, who is eager to bring an end to the 50-day shutdown. The bill, which has been narrowly approved by two procedural votes, aims to fund the federal government through January and includes provisions to stop mass federal firings and reverse dismissals that occurred during the shutdown.
However, Democrats are still deeply divided over the proposal, with many calling it a betrayal and vowing to vote against it. The House minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, has stated his "strong expectation" of a Democratic opposition, while influential progressive groups have even called for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to resign.
The shutdown has had severe consequences, with hundreds of thousands of furloughed federal workers missing paychecks and millions of Americans at risk of losing food assistance. The bill's failure to extend the healthcare subsidies has sparked fury among Democrats, who fear that millions of people will face sharp rises in their healthcare premiums or lose their marketplace coverage entirely.
Despite these divisions, Republican leaders are optimistic that the legislation will pass quickly, with a mere two-vote margin to accommodate losses. President Trump has congratulated Republican Speaker Mike Johnson on the Senate bill, calling it "a very big victory" and praising his efforts to reopen the government. The bill's fate remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the US is holding its breath as the country teeters on the brink of a prolonged political crisis.