Challenges Loom as House Prepares to Vote on Funding Bill

Tue Nov 11 2025 19:32:15 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The House of Representatives is set to vote on a spending bill aimed at ending the US government shutdown, but several obstacles could hinder its passage, including healthcare debates and potential flight delays for lawmakers.

As the House gears up for a critical vote on a spending bill to conclude a historic government shutdown, political dynamics may complicate proceedings. Key issues include disagreements on healthcare subsidies and the tight Republican majority facing dissent from fiscal conservatives. Additionally, travel delays due to shutdown-related complications could impede lawmakers' timely return to the capital.

Challenges Loom as House Prepares to Vote on Funding Bill

1 hour agoBy Jude Sheerin

Congressional — Texas Democrat Greg Casar warns against healthcare betrayal.

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 offer Democrats a vote in December on whether to extend the subsidies – something they had already offered weeks ago. House Speaker Mike Johnson has not committed 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 surge, handing Democrats a potent campaign issue for next year's midterm elections.

How intense will House Democratic opposition be?

Out of power in Washington, where Trump's Republicans control the House and Senate, Democrats appeared to have some momentum after recent election wins in several states.

However, those victories have highlighted divisions between the pragmatic and progressive factions of the party. Some leftist members express fierce anger at those Democrats who voted with Senate Republicans, feeling it amounted to capitulation.

Do Republicans have the votes?

Republicans control the House with their 219 seats against 213 Democrats, but can only afford to lose two votes to pass the spending plan. Most Republicans are expected to support the funding package, but fiscal hawks in the party may raise objections.

Will travel chaos delay the return to Washington?

House Speaker Mike Johnson has kept Congress out of session for the past seven weeks to apply pressure on Senate Democrats. As lawmakers struggle to return due to ongoing flight delays affecting Congress, a vote may push forward as early as Wednesday.