President Donald Trump signed a short-term spending bill late Wednesday night, officially ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history after 43 grueling days. The closure, which began on October 1, halted non-essential federal services, furloughed or forced unpaid work on about 1.4 million employees, disrupted air travel, and left food aid programs in limbo. Trump’s signature came just hours after the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed the measure 222-209, following Senate approval earlier in the week.
“With my signature, the federal government will now resume normal operations,” Trump declared in the Oval Office during a late-night ceremony. He criticized Democrats, saying, “This is no way to run a country,” and vowed, “We can never let this happen again.” The president pledged to focus on lowering living costs for Americans affected by the standoff.
A Narrow Path to Resolution
The bill extends federal funding only until January 30, 2026, setting the stage for another potential showdown in less than two months. It includes full-year funding for the Department of Agriculture, military construction, and legislative agencies. Crucially, it guarantees back pay for all affected federal workers and extends the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—which aids one in eight Americans—through September 2026.
Federal employees are expected to return to work as early as Thursday, though full restoration of services may take longer. The shutdown’s timing couldn’t have been worse: with Thanksgiving travel just two weeks away, air traffic disruptions from FAA staff shortages had already caused delays. Economists estimate the closure shaved more than a tenth of a percentage point off GDP every six weeks, though most lost output should recover in coming months. However, key October data on jobs and inflation may never be released, leaving gaps in economic insights.
The Core Dispute: Healthcare Subsidies
At the heart of the impasse were Affordable Care Act subsidies for 24 million low-income Americans, set to expire at year’s end. Senate Democrats, despite being in the minority, blocked funding bills because Republicans needed 60 votes to advance them—and fell seven short. Democrats demanded extensions as a condition for reopening the government.
A breakthrough came Sunday when eight Senate Democrats, including Virginia’s Tim Kaine, crossed party lines. In exchange, they secured a promise for a December Senate vote on the subsidies. “The federal workers I represent were saying thank you,” Kaine said, defending his vote against criticism from party leaders like Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who called the deal an “empty promise” that “fails to do anything of substance to fix America’s healthcare crisis.”
House Democrats, emboldened by recent election wins in New York City, New Jersey, and Virginia, opposed the bill bitterly. No House promises were made for a subsidies vote. In her final floor speech before resigning to become New Jersey’s governor, Representative Mikie Sherrill warned colleagues: “Do not let this body become a ceremonial red stamp from an administration that takes food away from children and rips away healthcare.” Quoting Navy tradition, she urged, “To the country: Stand strong. Don’t give up the ship.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson blamed Democrats for inflicting “pointless” pain. “They knew that it would cause pain, and they did it anyway,” he said. Trump echoed this, accusing Democrats of acting “purely for political reasons.”
No Clear Winners, Lingering Tensions
Public opinion remains split. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Wednesday showed 50% of Americans blaming Republicans and 47% faulting Democrats. Neither side claims victory. Bruce Fein, a former associate deputy attorney general, told reporters the deal is no “panacea.” He warned of another shutdown in January, noting deep divides over budget priorities: Democrats push for aid to the medically needy and food programs, while Republicans favor tax cuts for the wealthy and military spending.
The government will continue adding about $1.8 trillion annually to its $38 trillion debt. Some Democrats, like Illinois Governor JB Pritzker—a potential 2028 presidential contender—called the Senate compromise inadequate. California Governor Gavin Newsom and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also voiced fury at the defecting senators.
Broader Impacts and Side Deals
The shutdown’s end restores critical services ahead of the holidays, potentially freeing up household budgets for Christmas spending. Air travel should normalize, and economic data flows will resume—vital for investors and policymakers.
In a surprising side note, the bill allows eight Republican senators to sue for damages over alleged privacy violations in the January 6, 2021, Capitol investigation. It retroactively limits access to senators’ phone data without disclosure, enabling lawsuits for up to $500,000 plus fees.
Wednesday also marked the swearing-in of new Democratic Representative Adelita Grijalva from Arizona, who won a September special election to succeed her late father, Raul Grijalva. Her arrival provided the final signature for a petition forcing a House vote on releasing unclassified Jeffrey Epstein files—something Trump and Johnson have resisted. Johnson unexpectedly agreed to schedule it next week, potentially shifting Congress’s focus from funding to controversy.
As one Republican lawmaker, David Schweikert of Arizona, quipped about the ordeal: “I feel like I just lived a Seinfeld episode. We just spent 40 days and I still don’t know what the plotline was.” With funding secured only temporarily and healthcare unresolved, the episode may not be over.