Live Updates: US House Set to Vote on Bill to End Historic Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON – The US House of Representatives is poised to vote today, November 12, on a bill to fully reopen the federal government after a 35-day shutdown, the longest in American history. The potential vote brings an end to a debilitating impasse between Congress and the White House that has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers unpaid, disrupted government services, and impacted millions of Americans. President Trump is expected to sign the legislation into law later this evening if passed by the House.
the shutdown began on December 22, 2018, stemming from a dispute over funding for a wall along the US-Mexico border. Negotiations repeatedly stalled, leading to a cascading series of consequences, including delayed paychecks for federal employees, suspended services, and growing concerns over the impact on critical programs like food assistance. The crisis escalated throughout January, with both sides digging in their heels and multiple attempts at compromise failing to gain traction.
Here’s a timeline of key events leading to today’s vote:
* september 19: The US House passed a resolution to fund the government, which was subsequently rejected by the Senate, signaling the start of the legislative deadlock.
* October 1: The federal government officially shut down, furloughing non-essential employees and suspending numerous services.
* October 10: The Trump administration initiated layoffs of federal workers.
* October 11: President Trump directed the defense secretary to ensure military personnel continued to be paid despite the shutdown.
* October 15: A judge temporarily halted the administration’s planned layoffs of federal workers.
* October 24: Hundreds of thousands of federal workers missed their first full paychecks.
* November 1: Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP), impacting 42 million Americans, was threatened as funds began to run out.
* November 5: The shutdown surpassed previous records, becoming the longest in US history after the Senate rejected a 14th spending bill.
* November 7: The government instructed airlines to reduce domestic flights by a percentage,resulting in widespread delays and cancellations.
* november 9: A bipartisan agreement was reached by senators to end the shutdown, breaking the weeks-long impasse.
* November 10: The Senate passed the government funding bill, sending it back to the House for final approval.
* November 11: The House Rules Committee approved the Senate bill along party lines after a seven-hour meeting, clearing the way for a full House vote.
