According to CNN, on November 12, the House voted to approve a short-term funding bill to reopen the government after 43 days of closure, bringing an end to six weeks of intense deadlock over the Obamacare healthcare program, which had faced strong opposition from Republicans.
The final vote count was 222 in favor and 209 against, meaning both chambers of Congress have now voted to end the unprecedented federal shutdown. The measure will be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature to officially reopen the government.
The White House announced that President Trump would sign the bill in the Oval Office at 9:45 p.m. on November 12, with the event to be recorded on camera.
Initially, Trump had planned to host a private dinner at 7:30 p.m. with several White House reporters, but the event was later closed to the media. Instead, cameras were allowed into the Oval Office to film the moment he signed the funding bill to reopen the federal government.
The signing ceremony was officially added to the president’s daily schedule following confirmation that the House had passed the measure.
This schedule change came after a White House press briefing earlier in the day, during which Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters they might see the president later that evening when he signed the bill.
Once President Trump signs the legislation and the government officially reopens, it will take time for federal operations to fully return to normal.