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Lahontan Receives BLM Approval Of Santa Fe Exploration Plan Of Operations

Lahontan Gold Corp. (TSXV:LG)(OTCQB:LGCXF)(FSE:Y2F) (the ‘Company‘ or ‘Lahontan‘) is pleased to announce that the Federal Bureau of Land Management (‘BLM‘) has published its Decision Record (‘DR‘), Finding of No Significant Impact (‘FONSI‘), and approval of the Company’s Exploration Plan of Operations (‘EPOO‘) for the Santa Fe Mine project, on the BLM’s website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/home. This decision concludes the National Environmental Policy Act (‘NEPA‘) Environmental Assessment (‘EA‘) process and authorizes Lahontan to move forward with its greatly expanded exploration drilling and mine development program at Santa Fe.

The recently approved Exploration Plan of Operations (‘EPOO’) allows Lahontan to conduct exploration drilling across a 12.2 km² area of the Santa Fe Mine project, enabling the Company to test multiple new targets, well beyond the currently defined gold and silver resources (see map below)*. Previous Lahontan drilling programs focused on validating historical drill results, defining and expanding resources adjacent to the past-producing open pits, and collecting data to support detailed mine planning and scheduling.

With the EPOO in place, Lahontan can now initiate true exploration programs across the broader project area. The EPOO encompasses over 700 permitted drill holes targeting well-defined geologic and geochemical anomalies, as well as previously drilled areas that returned significant gold and silver intercepts that require follow-up drilling. Priority targets include the Pinnacles area, hosted in a similar geologic setting to Fortitude Gold’s nearby Isabella Pearl Mine, as well as important historic drilling at the Guzzler target south of the Santa Fe open pit, along with multiple untested zones between the known resource areas at Santa Fe (see map below).

Map of the recently approved EPOO for Santa Fe. The yellow shading outlines the area included in the EPOO, dark red indicates the historic pits including the Isabella Pearl pit west of the project boundary, the red lines shows the surface projection of known gold and silver resources*.

Kimberly Ann, Lahontan Gold Corp. Executive Chair, Founder, CEO, and President commented: ‘Receiving approval of the Santa Fe Mine project EPOO represents a landmark milestone for Lahontan. Until now, the Company’s exploration activities were limited to a five-acre disturbance area, significantly restricting its ability to step out from known resources and fully assess the exploration potential of the Santa Fe Mine Project. With the approval of the EPOO, Lahontan can now explore a 12.2 km² area encompassing multiple well-defined geological and geochemical targets located between and adjacent to existing gold and silver resources. The expanded permit area also allows for drill testing of the historical heap leach pads, which may contain remnant mineralization of potential economic interest. This approval positions the Company to evaluate the broader gold and silver endowment of the Santa Fe Mine project and to unlock the full potential of its strategic land position in Nevada’s Walker Lane. Lahontan would also like to thank the staff of the Carson City office of the BLM for their efficient and timely completion of the EPOO.’

Map of exploration targets at the Santa Fe Mine Project.

About Lahontan Gold Corp.

Lahontan Gold Corp. is a Canadian mine development and mineral exploration company that holds, through its US subsidiaries, four gold and silver exploration properties in the Walker Lane of mining friendly Nevada. Lahontan’s flagship property, the 28.3 km2 Santa Fe Mine project, had past production of 359,202 ounces of gold and 702,067 ounces of silver between 1988 and 1995 from open pit mines utilizing heap-leach processing. The Santa Fe Mine has a Canadian National Instrument 43-101 compliant Indicated Mineral Resource of 1,539,000 oz Au Eq(48,393,000 tonnes grading 0.92 g/t Au and 7.18 g/t Ag, together grading 0.99 g/t Au Eq) and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 411,000 oz Au Eq (16,760,000 grading 0.74 g/t Au and 3.25 g/t Ag, together grading 0.76 g/t Au Eq), all pit constrained (Au Eq is inclusive of recovery, please see Santa Fe Project Technical Report and note below*). The Company plans to continue advancing the Santa Fe Mine project towards production, update the Santa Fe Preliminary Economic Assessment, and drill test its satellite West Santa Fe project during 2025. For more information, please visit our website: www.lahontangoldcorp.com

* Please see the ‘Preliminary Economic Assessment, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Santa Fe Project’, Authors: Kenji Umeno, P. Eng., Thomas Dyer, PE, Kyle Murphy, PE, Trevor Rabb, P. Geo, Darcy Baker, PhD, P. Geo., and John M. Young, SME-RM; Effective Date: December 10, 2024, Report Date: January 24, 2025. The Technical Report is available on the Company’s website and SEDAR+. Mineral resources are reported using a cut-off grade of 0.15 g/t AuEq for oxide resources and 0.60 g/t AuEq for non-oxide resources. AuEq for the purpose of cut-off grade and reporting the Mineral Resources is based on the following assumptions gold price of US$1,950/oz gold, silver price of US$23.50/oz silver, and oxide gold recoveries ranging from 28% to 79%, oxide silver recoveries ranging from 8% to 30%, and non-oxide gold and silver recoveries of 71%.

Qualified Person

Brian J. Maher, M.Sc., CPG-12342, is a ‘Qualified Person’ as defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and has reviewed and approved the content of this news release in respect of all technical disclosure other than the Mineral Resource Estimate as noted above.‎ Mr. Maher is Vice President-Exploration for Lahontan Gold and has verified the data disclosed in this news release, including the sampling, ‎‎analytical and test data underlying the disclosure.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Kimberly Ann

Founder, CEO, President, and Director

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Lahontan Gold Corp.

Kimberly Ann
Founder, Chief Executive Officer, President, Director
Phone: 1-530-414-4400

Email:
Kimberly.ann@lahontangoldcorp.com

Website: www.lahontangoldcorp.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as ‘plan’, ‘expect’, ‘project’, ‘intend’, ‘believe’, ‘anticipate’, ‘estimate’ and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions ‘may’ or ‘will’ occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company’s control. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company’s filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com

Source

Click here to connect with Lahontan Gold Corp. (TSXV:LG)(OTCQB:LGCXF)(FSE:Y2F) to receive an Investor Presentation

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Realigning Portfolio Allocation with Nicholas Mersch

The investment management landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift.

The once-standard 60/40 portfolio approach, which balances equities and bonds, is being challenged by market volatility, the crowding of mega-cap tech stocks and rapid technological innovation reshaping the economy.

Navigating this environment requires a new mindset that embraces a blend of passive, active and alternative strategies to build resilient portfolios prepared for both risks and emerging opportunities.

Unbundling portfolios for resilience

Mersch advises unbundling traditional portfolios. Instead of relying solely on equity and fixed income, investors should blend a passive core with active management and alternative asset allocations.

“You might need to…alternative asset classes that might have either lower or even sometimes negative correlations, and start to think about the attributes that you want to build in a lot of resiliency around periods of volatility.”

Digital assets and gold are effective diversifiers in this landscape, contributing to what Mersch calls the ability “to zig while other paper assets zag.”

Active approaches enable investors to explore attractive opportunities beyond mega-cap concentration; however, dynamic risk budgeting and continuous reassessment are critical, especially when markets exhibit complacency or crowding in dominant sectors like tech.

“That’s where you can take a much more active approach in terms of betting on… other pockets or corners of the market.

“What I would encourage people to look at is the cost savings that we’re seeing in a lot of core businesses. A lot of businesses that operate in the real economy are starting to gain some real operating leverage because they’re implementing these tools as well.”

Thematic investment in technology and AI

AI infrastructure and semiconductors stand at the forefront of modern investment themes. Long-term infrastructure buildouts promise a transformative impact.

Mersch highlighted the accelerating buildout of data centers, which are critical to powering AI advancements, noting an expected leap in US electricity demand. “If you look at total electricity growth in the US from 2001 to 2024, it grew around 0.5 percent on an annualized basis. Over the next five years, it’s going to grow 4 percent,” he explained.

This surge underscores the energy-intensive nature of AI, creating substantial structural tailwinds for related real assets and thematic investment vehicles like ETFs.

The semiconductor industry exemplifies the globalization and complexity of technological innovation. Mersch described it as “one of the most global operating systems in the world,” spanning diverse geographies from chip design and fabrication to lithography and memory production.

However, escalating geopolitical tensions and US trade restrictions introduce layers of risk that demand active management and meticulous stock selection.

He also addressed concerns about circular financing risks in AI infrastructure. “When you have vendor financing, you’re essentially front running and creating that artificial demand,” he said, adding that vigilance regarding genuine adoption indicators, such as compute token usage reflecting actual AI workflow application, is needed to guard against this. “All signs right now are pointing to yes,” he said.

While echoes of prior tech cycles suggest potential boom and bust phases, Mersch noted that the scale and pace of capital expenditure in AI infrastructure signify foundational change with likely enduring impact. Complementarily, cybersecurity continues to gain importance as data proliferation accelerates and AI’s dual role as protector and attack vector. Companies specialized in endpoint protection and innovative security solutions play a key part in making tech portfolios more robust.

Meanwhile, speculative avenues like quantum computing offer future innovation frontiers. “I think Canada has definitely a really exciting future when it comes to quantum,” he added, noting Xanadu’s recent IPO announcement. “They kind of have these capabilities that only two other labs in the world have achieved.”

Mersch was referencing the company’s Aurora system, which uses photons as quantum bits, commonly referred to as qubits. “So we’re seeing a lot of that expertise being grown out here.”

Emerging strategies for future growth

Mersch also highlighted venture capital and private equity as core components of alternatives that complement passive and active strategies.

He noted the evolving accessibility of venture capital, with some democratization happening via fractional ownership and tokenization.

However, he cautions that top quartile funds still dominate returns, making established track records and fees critical considerations for investors.

In a similar vein, secondary market platforms offer new gateways by allowing access to direct listings and share sales, but come with layered fees and risks.

Long and short equity strategies also play a pivotal role in reducing correlation to broader markets. These funds can capitalize on thematic disruptions by taking long positions in companies leading structural change while shorting those likely to be disrupted.

Practical insight and forward-looking considerations

The modern paradigm of portfolio construction demands a sophisticated and dynamic approach, moving beyond simple stock and bond allocations. A resilient portfolio must now strategically integrate the three aforementioned key components.

Mersch’s insights offer a roadmap for investors navigating a rapidly evolving dynamic. In this landscape, embracing technology-driven themes is not merely optional but essential for future growth; however, any introduction of higher-risk assets requires both optimism and caution amid volatile and geopolitically complex markets.

Ultimately, building a resilient portfolio for the future means moving beyond old paradigms and proactively integrating new technologies and strategies with disciplined risk management.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Glencore Bets on China’s Aluminum Boom with Chuangxin Listing Investment

Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTC Pink:GLCNF) is reportedly set to take a major position in the Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) of Chuangxin Industries Holdings as aluminum prices climb to multi-year highs.

According to a Bloomberg report, people familiar with the matter said Glencore will participate as a cornerstone investor in the offering, alongside Hillhouse Investment Management and China Hongqiao Group, the country’s largest private aluminum producer.

Together, the three firms and other cornerstone participants could take up roughly half of the US$700 million deal, according to the sources, who asked not to be identified as the information remains private.

Aluminum prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) hit a three-year high of US$2,900 per metric ton last week, buoyed by tight supply and a government-imposed ceiling on new smelting capacity.

Those restrictions have helped sustain profitability among China’s smelters, which account for about half of global primary aluminum output.

Chuangxin, based in Inner Mongolia, plans to begin taking investor orders as soon as Friday for its Hong Kong debut, according to the same sources.

The company’s business centers on the production of primary aluminum and alumina, the key raw material for smelting. Its largest customer is Innovation New Material Technology, a Shanghai-listed firm led by Chuangxin chairman Cui Lixin, according to the company’s Hong Kong exchange filing.

If completed, the IPO would be one of the largest metals-related listings in Hong Kong this year. Total proceeds from Hong Kong listings are on track to hit a four-year high in 2025, potentially topping US$40 billion.

The rebound follows a long period of muted activity, though analysts note that several high-profile debuts have underperformed recently.

As one of the world’s largest traders of base metals, the company has been ramping up its participation in key supply chains tied to electrification and renewable infrastructure.

Aluminum, valued for its light weight and conductivity, plays a central role in the shift toward low-carbon technologies.

Representatives for Glencore and China Hongqiao declined to comment on the matter. Hillhouse did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while Chuangxin could not be reached.

The people familiar with the deal cautioned that final terms and investment allocations could still change as discussions continue.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Locksley Resources LimitedAppointment of Experienced Geologist Ian Stockton to Board

Perth, Australia (ABN Newswire) – Locksley Resources Ltd (ASX:LKY,OTC:LKYRF) (FRA:X5L) (OTCMKTS:LKYRF) announced the appointment of Mr Ian Stockton as Non-Executive Technical Director with effect from immediately following the AGM on 28 November 2025.

Mr Stockton is a highly credentialed geologist and mining executive with over 35 years of experience in resource development, operations, and technical advisory roles across global markets. He has held senior technical and leadership roles with major industry groups, providing crucial strategic advice to explorers and producers in both the base and critical mineral sectors.

Mr Stockton’s technical expertise is deeply integrated into the full project life cycle. He possesses strength in mine development, resource optimisation, and technical regulatory compliance, having successfully managed multi-disciplinary technical teams and overseen major study programs, including several projects that have successfully transitioned from concept to full production. His practical grounding in geological assessment will be immediately deployed to de-risk and advance Locksley’s assets.

Crucially, Mr Stockton brings direct and invaluable experience with antimony resources, the core focus of Locksley’s U.S. strategy. His background includes involvement in the exploration and development of the significant Costerfield gold-antimony deposit in Victoria, Australia, where he helped bring the Brunswick open pit deposit into production in the late 1990s. Furthermore, he has maintained exposure to major global antimony projects through reviews and confidential due diligence on key Australian antimony assets. This specialised knowledge is directly applicable to advancing our high-grade Desert Antimony Mine (DAM).

At Locksley, Mr Stockton will direct the Company’s technical execution and resource expansion strategy, supporting the advancement of the Desert Antimony Mine (DAM) in California and the broader U.S. mine-to-market critical minerals program. His appointment adds significant technical depth to the Board just as Locksley transitions from exploration to the complex phase of development, integrating upstream mining with downstream processing and advanced-materials innovation.

Pat Burke, Locksley Chairman, commented:

‘Ian brings a wealth of technical and operational experience at a pivotal time for Locksley. His practical approach to geological interpretation and project development, coupled with his strong background in industry governance, will be invaluable as we move toward production and establish a vertically integrated U.S. antimony supply chain.’

Mr Stockton holds a Bachelor of Science (Geology) from the University of Canberra and is a Fellow of the AIG (FAIG), as well as Registered Professional Geologist (RPGEO) as well as a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM).

The Company also advises that Mr Bevan Tarratt will resign with effect from immediately following the AGM on 28 November 2025. Mr. Tarratt will provide assistance to the Company in an executive capacity during a transition phase to ensure continuity of corporate and project functions. The Board thanks Mr Tarratt for his invaluable contribution and looks forward to his continuing involvement with the Company.

About Locksley Resources Limited:

Locksley Resources Limited (ASX:LKY,OTC:LKYRF) (FRA:X5L) (OTCMKTS:LKYRF) is an ASX listed explorer focused on critical minerals in the United States of America. The Company is actively advancing exploration across two key assets: the Mojave Project in California, targeting rare earth elements (REEs) and antimony. Locksley Resources aims to generate shareholder value through strategic exploration, discovery and development in this highly prospective mineral region.

Mojave Project

Located in the Mojave Desert, California, the Mojave Project comprises over 250 claims across two contiguous prospect areas, namely, the North Block/Northeast Block and the El Campo Prospect. The North Block directly abuts claims held by MP Materials, while El Campo lies along strike of the Mountain Pass Mine and is enveloped by MP Materials’ claims, highlighting the strong geological continuity and exploration potential of the project area.

In addition to rare earths, the Mojave Project hosts the historic ‘Desert Antimony Mine’, which last operated in 1937. Despite the United States currently having no domestic antimony production, demand for the metal remains high due to its essential role in defense systems, semiconductors, and metal alloys. With significant surface sample results, the Desert Mine prospect represents one of the highest-grade known antimony occurrences in the U.S.

Locksley’s North American position is further strengthened by rising geopolitical urgency to diversify supply chains away from China, the global leader in both REE & antimony production. With its maiden drilling program planned, the Mojave Project is uniquely positioned to align with U.S. strategic objectives around critical mineral independence and economic security.

Tottenham Project

Locksley’s Australian portfolio comprises the advanced Tottenham Copper-Gold Project in New South Wales, focused on VMS-style mineralisation

Source:
Locksley Resources Limited

Contact:
Kerrie Matthews
Chief Executive Officer
Locksley Resources Limited
T: +61 8 9481 0389
Kerrie@locksleyresources.com.au

News Provided by ABN Newswire via QuoteMedia

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Americas Gold & Silver to Acquire Crescent Silver in US$65 Million Deal

Mid-tier precious metals producer Americas Gold and Silver (TSX:USA,NYSEAMERICAN:USAS) continues to grow its North American footprint with its intended acquisition of privately owned Crescent Silver.

The two companies inked a US$65 million binding purchase agreement on Thursday (November 13). It includes the past-producing, fully permitted Crescent mine in the Idaho Silver Valley.

Known as “the silver capital of the world,” the region is well known for its immense production of silver, lead and zinc, as well as significant amounts of copper and antimony.

Within this prolific mining district, the Crescent mine is sandwiched between the historic Sunshine and Bunker Hill mines and is just 9 miles from Americas’ Galena complex, an active silver, lead and copper operation.

“The mineralized material at Crescent is the same silver-copper-antimony tetrahedrite material currently processed at Galena,” notes the company’s press release.

The deal comes just one week after the US Geological Survey officially added silver to its list of critical minerals in recognition of the metal’s growing importance to American economic and national security.

Substantial infrastructure is already in place at Crescent, which has a historic 2015 preliminary economic assessment demonstrating the potential to produce 1.4 million to 1.6 million ounces of silver annually.

“Crescent has the potential to be fast tracked into our growing production profile alongside Galena, allowing us to leverage our strong operations team located in the Silver Valley,” said Americas Chair and CEO Paul Andre Huet.

Management believes the company can begin adding feed from Crescent to the Galena mill and generating cashflow from these activities as early as mid-2026. Americas’ team sees plenty of upside on the Crescent property as less than 5 percent of the landholding has been explored, with only two veins delineated for production. In 2026, the company plans to launch a US$3.5 million drill program to test multiple targets both at surface and underground.

The Crescent acquisition includes US$20 million in cash alongside approximately 11.1 million common shares of an equity position in Americas valued at approximately US$45 million.

To cover the cost of the purchase, Americas initially announced it would be conducting a concurrent US$65 million bought-deal private placement via an agreement with Canaccord Genuity and BMO Capital Markets.

Shortly after that news, the company said it was increasing that private placement to US$115 million on strong investor interest. Eric Sprott, Americas’ largest shareholder, will participate in the financing.

“The addition of the Crescent Mine, while potentially improving the project profile of the Company, provides additional synergies only available through rational consolidation and is a transaction that leverages the strength of Paul’s strong operating team in the Silver Valley,” said Sprott, a well-known financier in the mining industry.

Earlier in the week, Americas Gold & Silver published its financial and operational results for Q3. Its consolidated silver production was up 98 percent year-on-year and 11 percent quarter-on-quarter, while its consolidated revenue, including by-product revenue, jumped by 37 percent compared to the same quarter last year to US$30.6 million.

Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Gold Price Rallies “Like a Meme Stock,” Breaks US$4,200 Again

As its record-setting year continues, gold is on its way to posting its strongest annual performance since 1979, up an impressive 58 percent year-to-date as of Wednesday (November 12).

The yellow metal once again broke past US$4,200 per ounce this week, moving closer to its all-time high of US$4,379.13, reached on October 17. Silver is up 80 percent year-to-date and also on track for its best year ever.

The silver spot price rose on Thursday (November 13) morning to just a few cents shy of its record price of US$54.47 per ounce. Silver futures hit a new record high of US$54.415 per ounce in early morning trading.

Gold rallied this week even amid news that the longest US government shutdown in history was coming to an end — typically the sort of development that would lessen demand for safe-haven assets. Yet continued labor market weakness in the US is priming expectations of further Federal Reserve interest rate cuts in December.

Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank, explained that gold is gaining on investor sentiment.

What does it mean to say that gold is acting like a meme stock? Basically, it implies that the gold market is displaying unusual trading dynamics with investment demand at times seemingly more momentum-driven than data-driven.

Gold and silver’s surge may be reflective of the good precious metals vibes investors are now feeling. Social media is buzzing with posts like “GOLD to $5,000!” and trending hashtags like #GoldRush2025 and #SilverSqueeze2.

Gold exchange-traded funds in particular are very popular with retail investors. Sherwood News reported on Tuesday (November 11) that daily call volumes for the SPDR Gold Trust (ARCA:GLD), which is backed by physical gold, had outstripped 1 million by 1:10 p.m. EST, ‘roughly triple their 334,000 average over the last 10 full sessions.’

While the speed and size of the price gains in gold and silver point to a highly sentiment-driven acceleration, this momentum doesn’t discount the strong fundamentals for gold and silver.

Yes, we’re likely to see price pullbacks, but the overall upward momentum is still supported by macro forces such as economic uncertainty, Fed independence concerns, geopolitical risks and in the case of silver, supply worries.

Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Scalise reveals post-shutdown GOP battle plan as House readies for intense new schedule

House GOP leaders are looking to kick off next week in high gear to make up for the six weeks they spent out of session during the government shutdown.

With the end of Congress’ 42-day fiscal standoff in sight, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., told Fox News Digital that House lawmakers will be faced with an accelerated schedule to accomplish the GOP’s priorities for this term.

‘I wanted to rework the schedule to create more time to make up for what happened during the shutdown, and the fact that there were a lot of bills that stacked up that we planned to bring to the floor in October that weren’t able to go,’ he said in an interview on Tuesday night.

Priorities for next week include legislation to help reduce federal restrictions on liquefied natural gas (LNG), and a bill aimed at expanding refining capacity in a bid to reduce soaring energy costs.

Measures aimed at D.C. are also expected to see votes, including a bill that D.C.’s pretrial release and detention processes require mandatory pretrial detention for defendants charged with violent crimes. 

Another bill expected to get a vote next week would undo local ordinances that Republicans say place burdensome barriers on the Metropolitan Police Department.

A largely symbolic measure to denounce socialism in the U.S. is also on next week’s schedule.

Lawmakers will be expected to work long into the night in a departure from their traditional day-to-day in D.C. Votes will be scheduled in the evenings when lawmakers have normally departed Capitol Hill for other events.

Scalise also noted the House would have a five-day legislative week from Monday through Friday, rather than the more traditional four days in D.C.

More time will also be allotted during the day for House committees to conduct hearings and advance their legislation, something that has not been done on Capitol Hill since Sept. 19.

‘We’re going to do that for the next few weeks until we catch up on the time that we missed when everybody was back in their districts,’ Scalise said.

The latter point is critical considering Congress will be reckoning with several key priorities in the coming months.

The bill to end the government shutdown, expected to pass the House on Wednesday, kicks the majority of fiscal year (FY) 2026 federal spending to a Jan. 30 deadline. It would also authorize funding for three of Congress’ 12 annual spending bills for FY 2026.

However, it will be an uphill battle for both the Senate and House appropriations committees to strike their remaining spending deals by then.

‘There are nine remaining bills, and we’d like to get all of those done in the next few weeks. And so, [House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla.] and his appropriators will be working overtime as well,’ Scalise said.

Congress also still has to find a bipartisan compromise on the federal government’s annual defense policy bill, called the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

‘There have been a lot of negotiations ongoing. I think we’re getting close on the NDAA,’ Scalise said.

Scalise said Republicans would also be busy at work on a new Farm Bill, legislation that sets agricultural priorities as well as federal food policies for urban, suburban and rural areas across the country, as well as a highway bill — legislation that authorizes policy for surface infrastructure like roads, bridges and rail lines nationwide.

‘A lot of those bills have been very active in the committee process. They just haven’t gotten a lot of attention nationally during the shutdown. But the committees have been working, especially the chairman, to try to get those bills ready to move,’ he said.

‘And so we will have a lot of big ticket items that are important to our America First agenda ready to go. And that’s why we’re going to just add more floor time to be able to get all of it done by the end of this year.’

But in order to get all those ‘big-ticket items’ done, the House will first need to pass the Senate’s bipartisan bill to end the government shutdown.

Asked if his chamber had the votes to do so, Scalise said, ‘I’m very hopeful we will.’

‘I’m very confident our members are really eager to get back to a full House schedule. Many of them have been working overtime in their districts to mop up the mess Democrats created during the shutdown,’ he said.

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Longest government shutdown in history nears likely end as House moves on funding bill

The end of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history is finally in sight, with the House of Representatives set to vote on a federal funding bill later Wednesday evening.

House lawmakers are set to take a procedural vote in the 5 p.m. hour on whether to allow debate on the measure. If the legislation survives, a final vote is expected in the 7 p.m. hour.

The government has been shut down for 43 days as Democrats and Republicans hotly debated the merits of the GOP’s initial federal funding bill, a short-term extension of fiscal year (FY) 2025 spending levels through Nov. 21.

The vast majority of Democrats are still against the legislation, including House Democratic leadership, but GOP lawmakers across several ideologically diverse factions have signaled confidence in a nearly unified Republican vote.

House Freedom Caucus Policy Chairman Chip Roy, R-Texas, said he heard no dissent on the bill from his band of fiscal hawks.

‘I’m not going to speak for everybody, but I think there’s general support. So you know, I’m unaware of any opposition of significance,’ he told reporters Tuesday night.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., said, ‘Nothing’s ever easy around here. But, look, I didn’t notice any dissent … I think the votes will be there on our side.’

But with a razor-thin majority, House GOP leaders can only afford to lose two Republican votes at most to pass the bill without relying on any Democrats.

‘I’m very hopeful,’ House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., told Fox News Digital when asked if Republicans had the votes to pass the bill. ‘I think you’re seeing just a few Democrats come to their senses. It should be a lot more.’

Meanwhile, the shutdown’s effects on the country have grown more severe by the day.

Many of the thousands of air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents who had to work without pay were forced to take second jobs, causing nationwide flight delays and cancellations amid staffing shortages at the country’s busiest airports. Millions of Americans who rely on federal benefits were also left in limbo as funding for critical government programs ran close to drying out.

At the heart of the issue was Democratic leaders’ refusal to back any funding bill that did not also extend COVID-19 pandemic-era enhanced Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of this year. Democrats argued it was their best hope of preventing healthcare price hikes for Americans across the U.S.

Republicans agreed to hold conversations on reforming what they saw as a broken healthcare system, but they refused to pair any partisan priority with federal funding.

The initial bill passed the House on Sept. 19 but stalled in the Senate for weeks, when Democrats sank the bill more than a dozen times.

However, after weeks of stalemate and the clock running down on their Nov. 21 bill, a new compromise emerged that got support from eight Senate Democrats to carry it across the finish line.

The new legislation would extend FY 2025 federal funding levels through Jan. 30, to give negotiators more time to strike a longer-term deal for FY 2026.

It would also give lawmakers some headway with that mission, advancing legislation to fund the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration; the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction; and the legislative branch.

In a victory for Democrats, the deal would also reverse federal layoffs conducted by the Trump administration in October, with those workers getting paid for the time they were off.

A side deal struck in the Senate also guaranteed Senate Democrats a vote on legislation extending the enhanced Obamacare subsidies. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., however, has made no such promise in the House.

If passed on Wednesday night, the legislation heads to President Donald Trump’s desk for a signature.

When asked about the bill on Tuesday, a White House official told Fox News Digital, ‘President Trump has wanted the government reopened since the first day Democrats shut it down. The action in the Senate is a positive development, and we look forward to seeing it progress.’

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