US House Faces Critical Test as Government Shutdown Enters Next Phase

House Moves Toward Procedural Votes to Reopen Federal Government

-Responsibility for reopening the US federal government now rests with the House of Representatives after parts of —

the government shut down when funding expired at midnight on Friday.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed confidence that lawmakers can advance the Senate-approved funding —

package and send it to President Donald Trump for signature by Tuesday.

However, the path forward remains uncertain as opposition from Democrats means Republican leaders must rely —

almost entirely on their own party to move the legislation.

The House Rules Committee is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m.

Eastern Time to consider the procedural rule governing debate on the spending bill.

Approval by the committee is required before the package can proceed to a full House vote.

Once reported out of committee, the rule itself must pass the House by a simple majority.

Both the procedural vote and the final vote on the funding bill are expected to —

take place on Tuesday, according to the Speaker’s plan.

Maintaining unity among Republican lawmakers will be critical.

Fiscal conservatives within the party have already raised objections to the funding agreement,

and even a small number of defections could derail efforts to quickly reopen major portions of the government.

If all members are present and Democrats vote unanimously against the rule, House leadership would be able to afford the—

loss of only a single Republican vote once a newly elected Democratic lawmaker is sworn in.

The outcome of these votes will determine how long the partial shutdown continues and whether federal agencies can resume full operations in the coming days.