US House Vote Faces Key Challenges: Four Obstacles to Ending Shutdown

Wed Nov 12 2025 14:17:32 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As the House of Representatives prepares to vote on a budget to potentially end the longest US government shutdown, four significant obstacles are gathering attention.

With the Senate passing a spending bill, the focus now shifts to the House of Representatives where several hurdles may impede the budget vote. The main concerns include the unity of House Republicans, potential Democratic opposition over healthcare subsidies, the adequacy of Republican support, and travel disruptions affecting lawmakers amidst severe winter weather.

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. And 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 warned 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. They want income caps on who can receive the tax credits and are proposing the tax dollars bypass insurance companies and go straight to individuals - although the details are unclear.

How intense will House Democratic opposition be?

Out of power in Washington, Democrats appeared to have some political momentum after recent election victories. But tensions between their pragmatic and progressive factions are surfacing, especially regarding those who voted with Senate Republicans to pass the budget.

Senator Bernie Sanders described this action as a horrific mistake, while California Governor Gavin Newsom termed it surrender. Congressman Greg Casar warned that a deal that fails to reduce healthcare costs is a betrayal of millions of Americans.

Centrist lawmakers may cross party lines, as Congressman Jared Golden plans to support the package in lieu of party unity for the greater good.

Do Republicans have the votes?

With a slim 219 to 213 majority, Republicans can only afford to lose two votes to pass the spending plan. While most members are expected to back it, known dissenters like Thomas Massie oppose such funding extensions. Concerns about fiscal responsibility are causing strife, especially with a budget set to increase the national debt significantly.

Will travel chaos delay the return to Washington?

House Speaker Mike Johnson is calling lawmakers back to session amid ongoing travel disruptions due to flight cancellations and severe winter weather, which is echoing the chaos faced during the shutdown. With a vote anticipated, timing remains crucial as lawmakers navigate returning to Congress.