Trump ends 43-day shutdown with government funding bill
President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill Wednesday night, bringing to a close a record 43-day shutdown that inflicted financial strain on federal workers who went without paychecks, left many travelers stranded at airports, and resulted in long lines at several food banks. The shutdown highlighted the deepening partisan rifts in Washington, as Trump undertook extraordinary unilateral measures, such as canceling projects and attempting to dismiss federal employees, in an effort to compel Democrats to concede to his demands. The Republican president attributed the situation to Democrats and implied that voters should refrain from rewarding the party in the upcoming midterm elections next year. “So I just want to tell the American people, you should not forget this,” Trump said. As we approach midterms and other significant events, let us not forget the actions taken that have impacted our nation. The signing ceremony occurred mere hours after the House approved the measure with a largely party-line vote of 222-209, and the measure had already been passed by the Senate on Monday.
Democrats aimed to prolong an enhanced tax credit that is set to expire at the year’s end, which reduces the cost of health coverage acquired through Affordable Care Act marketplaces, and they declined to support a short-term spending bill that failed to incorporate that priority. However, Republicans asserted that this was a distinct policy battle to be addressed at a later date. “We told you 43 days ago from bitter experience that government shutdowns don’t work,” said Rep. Tom Cole. “They never achieve the objective that you announce.” And guess what? You have not yet reached that goal, and it appears unlikely that you will. The tension and challenges stemming from the shutdown were evident as lawmakers engaged in discussions regarding the spending measure on the House floor. Republicans asserted that Democrats aimed to leverage the suffering caused by the shutdown to gain an advantage in a policy disagreement, while House Speaker Mike Johnson said, “They knew it would cause pain and they did it anyway.”
Democrats asserted that Republicans hurried to enact tax breaks earlier this year, which they claim will primarily advantage the affluent, but the bill presented to the House on Wednesday leaves families in a precarious situation, with no assurance that there will ever be a vote to extend tax credits aimed at assisting everyday individuals in affording their health care, stated Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries asserted that Democrats would persist in their efforts for the subsidy extension, regardless of the outcome of the vote, noting that “This battle is far from concluded. We are merely at the beginning of our journey.” The House has not convened for legislative session since September 19, when it approved a short-term measure to maintain government operations as the new budget year commenced in October, and Johnson sent lawmakers home following that vote, placing the responsibility on the Senate to take action, asserting that House Republicans had fulfilled their duties. The legislation stems from an agreement forged by eight senators who diverged from the Democrats upon realizing that Republicans were steadfast in their refusal to utilize a government funding bill to prolong the health care tax credits.
The agreement allocates resources for three annual spending bills and prolongs government funding until January 30, with Republicans pledging to conduct a vote by mid-December regarding the extension of health care subsidies, though success is not assured. The legislation encompasses a reversal of the termination of federal employees initiated by the Trump administration since the onset of the shutdown, additionally safeguarding federal employees from additional layoffs until January and ensuring they receive their pay once the shutdown concludes. The legislation concerning the Agriculture Department ensures that individuals dependent on essential food assistance programs will receive uninterrupted funding for the remainder of the budget year. The package allocates $203.5 million to enhance security for lawmakers, along with an extra $28 million designated for the protection of Supreme Court justices. Democrats expressed strong opposition to provisions enabling senators to take legal action when a federal agency or employee conducts searches of their electronic records without prior notification, potentially resulting in damages of up to $500,000 for each infraction, and critics noted the language appeared designed to assist Republican senators in seeking damages should their phone records have been scrutinized by the FBI during an inquiry into Trump’s attempts to reverse his 2020 election defeat.
The provisions also faced criticism from Republicans, with Johnson expressing deep anger, saying, “That was dropped in at the last minute, and I did not appreciate that, nor did most of the House members,” and promising a vote next week. The primary issue of debate revolved around the future of the expiring enhanced tax credit that facilitates more affordable health insurance via Affordable Care Act marketplaces, and Cole argued, “It is a subsidy on top of a subsidy. Our friends added it during COVID. The COVID pandemic has concluded. They established a definitive date for the expiration of the subsidies. They selected the date.” Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., stated that the enhanced tax credit was intended to provide greater access to health care, noting that no Republican supported it, adding, “They have solely focused on removing access to health care in our country. The country is catching on to them.” Without the enhanced tax credit, premiums on average will more than double for millions of Americans, and the Congressional Budget Office projected that more than 2 million people would lose health insurance coverage altogether next year. Republicans are divided on extending the credits, with some open to renewal but seeking added eligibility restrictions, while Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, has voiced support for extending the credits with new income caps, and Democrats have expressed willingness to consider the idea. However, House Democrats voiced doubts that the Senate’s efforts would lead to a breakthrough, with Rep. Rosa DeLauro stating, “Republicans have wanted to repeal the health overhaul for the past 15 years. That’s where they’re trying to go.”
