The longest government shutdown in U.S. history came to an end Wednesday night, after six House Democrats joined Republicans to pass a funding package in a close 222-209 vote.
Democratic defections helped push the bill over the finish line, as two Republicans opposed the measure to reopen the government. President Donald Trump signed the bill in the Oval Office shortly after its passage.
Moderate Democrats who voted yes were Jared Golden of Maine, Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez of Washington, Adam Gray of California, Don Davis of North Carolina, Henry Cuellar of Texas and Tom Suozzi of New York.
All cited the shutdown’s growing impacts on Americans as a reason they moved to end the 43-day stalemate, even though Democratic leadership opposed the funding package because it does not address their key demand to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits that are set to expire at the end of the year.
“Tonight, I voted to end this partisan shutdown car crash. No one likes paying even more money to insurance companies, and the fight to stop runaway health insurance premiums will not be won by holding hungry Americans hostage,” Gluesenkamp Pérez said in a statement. “Americans cannot afford to have their representatives get so caught up in achieving a partisan victory that they abandon their obligation to come together to solve the urgent problems facing our nation.”
Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez listens to testimony at the Rayburn Building, June 4, 2025.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Gray said it was not a “perfect deal” but “born of a compromise,” and highlighted how the bill will expand funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and SNAP for a full fiscal year.
“Some critics have asked me why I supported the bill when it did not include an immediate extension of the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits. Here’s why: Protecting families from hunger today doesn’t prevent us from reducing health care costs tomorrow,” he said.
“People are hurting right now, they’re in pain!” Davis said after the vote.
When asked by ABC News senior political correspondent Rachel Scott if the impacts of the shutdown outweighed everything else, Davis said “absolutely.”
“And it’s hearing from constituents who are deeply concerned. They’ve been affected in ways we don’t even understand,” he told ABC News’ Scott.
“Parents tell their kids to eat more at school because they don’t know if they’ll be able to eat when they get home,” Davis continued, adding, “This is real.”
Representative Don Davis is seen outside the Democratic National Committee, September 19, 2024.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
But Democrats are now dealing with infighting after eight Senate Democrats and six House Democrats broke ranks to end the shutdown without a deal on ACA subsidies. The deal to end the shutdown included a promise by Senate Republican leaders to hold a vote on health care subsidies in the coming weeks, but Speaker Mike Johnson has not committed to such a vote in the House.
Democrats who voted to reopen the government said the fight will continue over the ACA as premiums skyrocket for recipients next year.
“Now, with the shutdown over, Congress should take immediate action to extend the expiring ACA premium tax credits that keep health insurance plans affordable for millions of Americans. We still have a window to pass bipartisan legislation to extend these credits,” Golden said.
Rep. Jared Golden attends an event in October. September 25, 2024, in Lewiston, Maine.
Robert F. Bukaty/AP
Suozzi echoed that sentiment.
“Everyone knows I’ve been preaching bipartisanship for years. I trust the statements of some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who want to do something to extend premium tax credits,” Suozzi said.
“If my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are willing to work together to address this health insurance affordability crisis by expanding premium tax credits, then we will have accomplished something significant,” the New York Democrat added. “If we are not successful, we will deal another blow to the already eroded trust in Washington, DC, and it will be clear who did not deliver.”
ABC News’ Arthur Jones II contributed to this report.
