The U.S. Senate Passes Government Shutdown Compromise, House Faces Key 'Rules Vote' Test

**February 3** — The U.S. Senate cleared a key procedural hurdle Monday night for a compromise to end the ongoing partial government shutdown, setting the stage for the legislation to face a House vote Tuesday. However, the bill could hit a second procedural roadblock: a House floor “rule vote,” which requires a simple majority to open debate and advance to a final vote. House votes are typically sharply partisan, meaning Speaker Johnson will need near-unanimous support from Republican members for the measure to pass. The partial shutdown—affecting roughly 78% of federal government operations—entered its third day after Congress failed to send remaining spending bills to former President Trump by January 30. The House had previously passed an initial bipartisan bill to fund the government through the end of fiscal year 2026 (September 30), but Democrats unanimously opposed the plan in protest of Trump’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. (Golden Finance)