Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday called for House lawmakers to return to Washington “right now” after a small group of Senate Democrats broke a 40-day stalemate, voting with Republicans to move forward on legislation aimed at ending the government shutdown.
According to The Associated Press, Johnson said during a news conference that “the nightmare is finally coming to an end,” and further noted that it needs to be done “as quickly as possible.”
The House has been out of session since mid-September, when it passed a bill to continue government funding.
Late Sunday, moderate Senate Democrats agreed to advance three bipartisan spending bills and extend the rest of government funding until late January in exchange for a mid-December vote on extending health care tax credits.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune called for an immediate vote to begin the approval process, while warning that final passage could still take hours if any senators object.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer opposed the measure, saying, “We will not give up the fight,” and criticizing the deal for failing to protect health care subsidies. “This bill does nothing to ensure the crisis is addressed,” he added.
Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders also denounced the move as a “horrific mistake,” while progressive House Democrats criticized the deal as a betrayal of Americans counting on Democrats to fight for affordable health care. Rep. Greg Casar said, “Accepting nothing but a pinky promise from Republicans isn’t a compromise — it’s capitulation.”
The agreement would reverse mass firings of federal workers and guarantee back pay. It includes bipartisan bills funding key programs such as food aid, veterans’ services, and the legislative branch. Other funding is extended through January, giving lawmakers additional time to finish spending bills.
The shutdown has disrupted travel and aid: more than 2,000 U.S. flights were canceled Sunday, with over 7,000 delays reported, and food assistance programs have been slowed.
Treasury Secretary Sean Duffy warned that air travel could be “reduced to a trickle” ahead of Thanksgiving if the shutdown persists.
The Senate deal marks a critical step toward reopening the government, but disputes over health care subsidies and broader negotiations could continue into December.
