House Reconvenes to End Shutdown, Votes Expected Wednesday

House members were instructed to return to Washington and be ready to vote to end the government shutdown as soon as Wednesday, bringing Capitol Hill back into session after more than 50 days away. Republican leaders have signaled an accelerated schedule, with the House Rules Committee aiming to meet Tuesday around 6 p.m. to 6 30 p.m. to advance a spending package for a floor vote on Wednesday, according to two people with direct knowledge of the plan.

GOP leaders want the House to begin voting sometime after 4 p.m. Wednesday to conclude what party officials describe as the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The compressed timeline underscores the political pressure on members to resolve a crisis that has disrupted federal services, delayed payments to contractors, and strained public confidence in governance.

The procedural roadmap centers on the Rules Committee, whose approval is required to bring a consolidated funding bill to the floor under terms set by leadership. That committee will determine the scope of amendments and debate time, a leverage point for both moderates seeking protections for key programs and hardliners pressing for policy concessions. The speed of the schedule increases the importance of internal whip operations, as leaders attempt to lock down votes and avoid last minute defections.

The vote calculus remains uncertain. House Republicans control the gavel, but the size of the majority and the ideological cohesion within the conference will dictate whether the package can pass without Democratic support. If significant factions oppose the leadership plan, the result could force further bargaining or supplemental changes on the floor. For rank and file members, the choice presents a classic trade off between delivering government funding and satisfying intra party constituencies that may view concessions as a betrayal.

Beyond the immediate question of reopening agencies, the outcome will shape the remainder of the congressional calendar and the management of federal budgets. Lawmakers who supported the administration’s signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act earlier this year face fresh tests about their ability to translate legislative victories into stable governance. The shutdown has already prompted scrutiny from municipal officials, federal employees, and businesses that depend on predictable funding flows.

The developments come as Rep. Jodey Arrington, chair of the House Budget Committee, announced his retirement Tuesday morning. Arrington, who helped shepherd the One Big Beautiful Bill Act through Congress, said in a video statement Tuesday, “As much good as we’ve done together, there’s a time and season for everything.” His departure will trigger a contest for control of the Budget Committee, a key post for shaping next year’s fiscal priorities and for conducting oversight of federal spending.

Arrington’s exit complicates leadership planning at a moment when the Republican conference needs unified management of an urgent legislative task. Potential successors will be evaluated on their ability to marshal votes, negotiate with members across competing wings of the party, and coordinate with House leadership on appropriations strategy.

As Washington moves quickly to end the shutdown, the political and institutional consequences will reverberate. Lawmakers will be judged on whether they restored services without conceding core policy goals, and voters will assess whether Congress can exercise the basic functions of governance under pressure. The coming 24 to 36 hours will be decisive for both immediate operations and longer term party dynamics.