Speaker Johnson Calls House Back to Vote Shutdown Deal/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the House of Representatives will return to Washington immediately following a Senate breakthrough on a bipartisan deal to end the government shutdown. The Senate voted 60–40 to advance a compromise bill extending federal funding into late January. Johnson urged swift action, saying “the nightmare is finally coming to an end.”
Speaker Johnson Orders House Return: Quick Looks
- Speaker Mike Johnson instructed House lawmakers to head back to Washington for a possible vote.
- The Senate advanced a bipartisan funding bill 60–40 to reopen the government.
- The bill extends funding through late January but lacks a guaranteed health subsidy extension.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune promised a December vote on ACA tax credits.
- Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and most Democrats opposed the measure.
- President Trump said the shutdown “looks close to ending.”
- Johnson called for urgent action after keeping the House out of session since mid-September.
- The shutdown has caused major travel delays and halted food assistance programs nationwide.
Deep Look
House Speaker Johnson Moves to End Shutdown After Senate Advances Funding Deal
House Speaker Mike Johnson told lawmakers on Monday to begin returning to Washington “right now” after the Senate broke through a six-week impasse to advance legislation aimed at ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
The Senate’s 60–40 procedural vote late Sunday night opened the path for a final vote on a bipartisan funding package that would keep the government open through late January. The measure includes several spending bills negotiated by both parties but omits Democrats’ key demand — a guaranteed extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits set to expire at the end of the year.
“We have to do this as quickly as possible,” Johnson said during a morning press conference. “This nightmare is finally coming to an end.”
For weeks, Johnson had kept the House out of session, saying his chamber had already passed a funding bill. But after Sunday’s Senate action, he reversed course, signaling that House members should be ready to vote as soon as the upper chamber finishes its work.
Senate Deal Breaks Deadlock
The Senate agreement was made possible when eight moderate Democrats joined Republicans to move the bill forward. The group included Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, Maggie Hassan, Angus King, Tim Kaine, Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, and Jacky Rosen.
Their decision followed weeks of tense negotiations and came with a promise from Senate Majority Leader John Thune to hold a December vote on the ACA tax credits. The deal also reinstates federal employees who were laid off during the shutdown and guarantees back pay.
“The time to act is now,” Thune said Sunday night after calling the vote.
President Donald Trump has not explicitly endorsed the deal but said it “looks like we’re getting close to the shutdown ending” upon returning to the White House from a football game.
Democratic Division Over the Deal
Despite the breakthrough, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and most of his caucus opposed advancing the legislation. Schumer called it “a mistake” and said Democrats would not “give up the fight” for health care subsidies.
Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders also denounced the compromise, calling it a “horrific mistake,” while other Democrats argued that voters wanted the party to stand firm against Republican demands.
In the House, progressive Democrats echoed those frustrations. Rep. Greg Casar, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, called the deal “a betrayal,” warning that millions could lose health coverage. “Accepting nothing but a pinky promise from Republicans isn’t a compromise — it’s capitulation,” Casar said.
Johnson’s Urgency Marks a Shift
Johnson’s decision to summon lawmakers back to Washington marks a clear shift from his earlier posture. For most of the shutdown, the House had been on recess as the standoff dragged on, with Republicans insisting the Senate act first. Now, the Speaker appears eager to demonstrate GOP leadership in resolving the crisis.
However, the timeline remains uncertain. The Senate still must pass the measure formally, and any objections could delay final approval by several days.
Shutdown’s Mounting Consequences
The shutdown’s toll has grown more severe by the day. U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,000 flights on Sunday and reported more than 7,000 delays, the highest since the shutdown began. Treasury Secretary Sean Duffy warned that Thanksgiving air travel could be “reduced to a trickle” if the government does not reopen soon.
Meanwhile, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has faced funding disruptions, delaying food aid for millions of Americans. In Washington, D.C., food banks have reported record demand — the Capital Area Food Bank said it is providing 8 million more meals this holiday season, a 20% increase from last year.
The Road Ahead
Once the Senate completes its votes, the bill will move to the House, where Johnson has pledged swift consideration. The legislation would extend government funding through January 2026, giving lawmakers two months to negotiate broader budget priorities.
Whether President Trump will sign the measure remains uncertain, but both parties are under intense pressure from federal employees, businesses, and voters to bring the shutdown to an end.
For now, Johnson’s call to reconvene the House represents the most concrete step toward reopening the government since the shutdown began. “It’s time for Congress to act,” he said. “No more delays — the American people deserve better.”
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