“Slush Fund” Dispute and 4 Key Moments That Ended the Shutdown

WASHINGTON — The fissure between America’s two dominant political forces was on full, unfiltered display within the storied halls of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday evening, as legislators cast decisive votes to conclude the most protracted government shutdown in national memory.

After an almost two-month dormancy, the House of Representatives reawakened with a surge of pent-up tension. The chamber became a theater of grievances, frustration, and rhetorical crossfire as lawmakers vented their ire over a fiscal standoff that had largely been left for the Senate to untangle.

Having last assembled on September 19, House members reconvened to affirm the Senate’s funding accord — a measure to reignite the machinery of government. Nearly the entirety of the Democratic caucus rejected the bill, decrying its inadequacy in alleviating the growing burdens of health care costs. Conversely, most Republicans rallied in favor, propelling the measure to passage by a tally of 222–209.

The evening unfolded with drama worthy of political theater — five pivotal moments stood out amidst the tumult.

A journey through chaos:

With air travel mired in disorder, congressional leaders fretted over the possibility that members might not reach Washington in time to cast their votes. Some resorted to improvisation — carpooling across state lines, while one particularly determined Republican, Rep. Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin, rumbled nearly 1,000 miles astride his motorcycle from his home state to the capital. Earlier that day, Tiffany had been in Milwaukee, receiving an endorsement in his gubernatorial campaign, before making the arduous trek back east.

When the gavel finally struck at dusk, Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana presided over the chamber — his first order of business after a 54-day silence. The Speaker’s calculated pause had been a tactical maneuver, a way to pressurize Senate Democrats into action on reopening the government.

“We’re done wasting precious hours,” Johnson declared, his voice cutting through the chamber’s low rumble.

A delayed oath and a symbolic moment:

The session’s opening act featured the long-delayed swearing-in of Rep. Adelita Grijalva, Arizona Democrat, whose victory in a September special election had been overshadowed by procedural delays. Her induction — seven weeks late — drew censure from both sides of the aisle, with critics warning that such postponements threatened to erode the norms of political succession.

Grijalva’s arrival proved consequential. Her vote solidified enough momentum to demand action on a resolution pushing for the public release of additional government documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender whose legacy remains a dark stain on public trust.

A fracture within the GOP ranks:

The march toward reopening government faltered when House Republicans turned their ire inward, castigating Senate colleagues over a last-minute clause slipped into the funding bill. The provision — derided by Democrats as a clandestine “slush fund” — would empower GOP senators such as Lindsey Graham to sue the federal government if their electronic communications were secretly seized.

The backdrop: the Biden administration had subpoenaed several Republican lawmakers’ phone records amid investigations into the January 6th insurrection. Yet, senior House figures — including Rep. Tom Cole, Oklahoma Republican and Appropriations Committee chair — claimed ignorance of the clause before its quiet inclusion.

Speaker Johnson, visibly incensed, told reporters he had personally telephoned Senate Majority Leader John Thune to express his “deep fury” over the measure. Johnson promised swift reprisal — a new bill next week aimed squarely at repealing the controversial language.

Democrats were equally unrestrained. Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts lambasted the provision, branding it “an audacious act of legalized looting.”

“It’s perhaps the most shameless plunder of public funds ever introduced in the annals of Congress,” McGovern proclaimed, his words echoing with indignation.

Democrats falter in unity:

For Democrats, the evening’s script was meant to showcase solidarity — yet the performance unraveled quickly.

Tensions flared when Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez of Washington publicly rebuked fellow Democrat Rep. Chuy García of Illinois, accusing him of orchestrating a hasty succession process that stifled primary competition in his Chicago district.

Her critique shattered the party’s façade of unity; half a dozen Democrats ultimately crossed the aisle to vote alongside Republicans, sealing the bill’s fate.