House Republicans forced a vote and the government is reopening after a shutdown fight that lasted more than 40 days, with lawmakers rejecting Democratic efforts to attach sweeping funding for subsidies and illegal alien health care.

It’s over: the shutdown fight that gripped Washington ended when the House approved a measure to reopen the government by a 222-208 margin. Republicans held firm against what they called costly policy riders, and six House Democrats crossed the aisle to join the majority. The bill now moves to the president’s desk for signature.

For over 40 days the negotiations centered on two flashpoint demands from Democrats — a massive funding grab tied to NPR-style spending and expanded health coverage for illegal aliens. GOP leaders repeatedly said those items were nonstarters and refused to fold, even as the shutdown stretched on. Republicans did agree to one concession: no further federal worker layoffs, which they framed as a reasonable compromise while holding the line elsewhere.

The original continuing resolution Congress debated was a clean, seven-week CR set at Biden-era funding levels with no poison pills, and Democrats supported that CR back in March. When talks broke down and the shutdown began, numerous appropriations bills stalled and the policy fights intensified. In the end, the House vote closed the loop and restored operations without accepting the major Democratic demands.

Senate centrists moved to cut a deal after weeks of stalemate, prompting pushback from more progressive House members. The bipartisan agreement largely mirrored what Republicans had insisted on from the start: funding through January 30, SNAP funding through September 2026, and a scheduled vote on the COVID-era subsidy question. Those terms left Democrats furious, and their complaints have been loud and public (via Axios):

A private call of House Democrats devolved into a furious vent session Monday afternoon as lawmakers fumed about a group of Senate centrists cutting a deal with Republicans to end the shutdown. 

Why it matters: Over a dozen House Democrats spoke on the call, with the vast majority slamming the deal, sources told Axios — a volume that reflects deep outrage between the two chambers. 

Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) said the public is incensed at what they see as Democrats caving on the shutdown fight, telling her colleagues, “People are f**king pissed.” 

Nearly “everyone [was] strongly against” the deal, said one House Democrat who was on the call but spoke on the condition of anonymity to share details of a private discussion.  

Republicans framed the outcome as a clear win for fiscal discipline and border integrity, arguing the party prevented a permanent expansion of subsidy programs that they say invite fraud and raise costs. The vote signaled that, on major policy points, GOP lawmakers would not trade them away to end a temporary lapse in funding. Messaging from conservative leaders emphasized accountability for the political pain voters experienced during the shutdown.

For over six weeks, Democrats held our country hostage over demands for healthcare for illegal aliens and to prove to their base they could ‘stand up’ to President Trump. The Republican Study Committee stood firm in rejecting any extension of COVID-era insurance subsidies that fuel fraud and drive up costs for American families, and in preventing Democrats from using the Christmas holidays to force a wasteful omnibus through Congress. Let me be clear: Democrats gained nothing from their shutdown while hardworking families paid the price. Now, it is time to get back to governing and delivering on the mandate we were given by the American people last November. 

The outcome leaves key questions on the calendar: lawmakers will need to return to the subsidy debate and finalize appropriations before January 30. Republicans say the upcoming votes will provide a chance to push back on policies they view as fiscally reckless or that reward illegal behavior. Democrats will debate their next steps while managing internal anger from the parts of their conference that opposed the compromise.

Editor’s Note: After more than 40 days of screwing Americans, a few Dems have finally caved. The Schumer Shutdown was never about principle—just inflicting pain for political points.