Four Key Challenges Facing House Vote to End US Government Shutdown

Wed Nov 12 2025 15:30:48 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As the House of Representatives prepares to vote on a vital funding bill, several obstacles loom that could impact the outcome of efforts to halt the government shutdown.

Following the Senate's passage of a spending bill aimed at ending a historic government shutdown, the focus shifts to the House of Representatives. As House Republicans prepare for a crucial vote, potential hurdles include internal conflict over healthcare subsidies, Democratic opposition, and travel disruptions that may delay lawmakers' return to Washington amidst severe weather conditions.

A day after the US Senate passed a spending bill to end the longest-ever government shutdown, the budget fight now moves to the House of Representatives. The lower chamber of Congress is expected to vote this week on the funding measure.

Unlike in the Senate, if House Republicans stay united, they don't need any Democrats to pass the budget. But the margin for error is razor thin.

Here are four potential hold-ups for the budget, before it can clear Congress and land on the president's desk for signing into law.

Will House Republicans budge on healthcare?

A key sticking point throughout the shutdown has been a desire on the part of Democrats to attach to the spending bill a renewal of tax credits that make health insurance less expensive for 24 million Americans. Senate Republicans instead only agreed to grant Democrats a vote in December on whether to extend the subsidies – something they had already offered weeks ago.

House Speaker Mike Johnson would not commit on Monday to allowing a vote in his chamber on the tax credits. This entails a fair degree of political risk for Republicans, however. If they torpedo the subsidies, health coverage premiums could rocket, handing Democrats a ready-made campaign issue for next year's midterm elections.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, a conservative Republican congresswoman from Georgia, has broken ranks with Trump to warn that her party must ensure health insurance premiums do not spike.

As the clock ticks down to the subsidies expiring by the end of December, Republicans are working out their plan, proposing income caps on who can receive the tax credits.

How intense will House Democratic opposition be?

Out of power in Washington, where Trump's Republicans control the House and Senate, Democrats appeared finally to have some political wind in their sails after a handful of election wins last week in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City. But those victories have accentuated strategic tensions between the pragmatic and progressive factions of the party.

The Democratic left is furious at defectors who voted with Senate Republicans to pass the budget, calling it a capitulation to Trump. Congressman Greg Casar of Texas warned: A deal that doesn't reduce healthcare costs is a betrayal of millions of Americans counting on Democrats to fight for them. However, centrist lawmakers may cross the aisle, indicating possible support for the funding bill.

Do Republicans have the votes?

Republicans hold 219 seats against the Democrats' 213, meaning they can only afford to lose two votes to pass the plan. While most are expected to support it, fiscal hawks in the party raise concerns, potentially threatening the budget's passage.

Will travel chaos delay the return to Washington?

House Speaker Mike Johnson has kept the chamber out of session for the last seven weeks to focus pressure on Senate Democrats. Now, he is urging lawmakers to return immediately to Washington with a vote set for Wednesday afternoon at the earliest. However, members of Congress face flight delays due to adverse weather conditions, which could delay their return and impact the vote.