The U.S. government has officially reopened after a record 43-day shutdown — the longest in the nation’s history. President Donald Trump signed a funding package late Wednesday night to restore federal operations, ending weeks of political gridlock and financial strain.
The shutdown had left hundreds of thousands of government workers without pay and suspended essential public services. With Trump’s signature, agencies will now restart operations, employees will receive back pay, and key programs like food and nutrition assistance will resume.
The House approved the deal by a narrow 222–209 vote after Republicans and centrist Senate Democrats reached a compromise. The funding bill keeps the government running through January and provides funding for several major agencies through the end of fiscal year 2026.
Calling the legislation a “victory,” Trump said from the Oval Office that his administration “would never give in to extortion.” He accused Democrats of dragging negotiations, saying, “They had to do it the hard way, and they look very bad.”
Weeks of political deadlock and economic fallout
The final deal followed a four-day push in Congress to break the deadlock. Eight Senate Democrats joined Republicans to pass the measure amid growing concern over the economic toll of the shutdown.
The shutdown had halted major federal programs, forced mass furloughs, and delayed payments for millions of Americans. The new law reverses the layoffs and restores operations at shuttered agencies.
Democrats largely opposed the bill because it doesn’t guarantee an extension of Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) subsidies, which are set to expire soon. The agreement instead ensures a December Senate vote on the subsidies — but their renewal remains uncertain.
Only six House Democrats — Jared Golden, Adam Grey, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Henry Cuellar, Tom Suozzi, and Don Davis — voted for the reopening bill. Others warned that without the subsidies, Americans could face rising health care costs.
“The well has run dry”: USDA stops food benefits for 41 million Americans amid shutdown chaos
Disputes over funding and controversial provision
Adding to tensions, a last-minute provision inserted by Senate Republicans allows senators to sue the Department of Justice for past phone record investigations, potentially leading to pay-outs of up to $500,000 per senator.
Speaker Mike Johnson said he was “shocked” to learn about the clause after Senate passage and promised a future vote to remove it. “It was a really bad look, and we’re going to fix it in the House,” he said.
Conservatives like Rep. Chip Roy criticised the measure as “self-dealing,” noting it could benefit eight senators who were previously subpoenaed during Trump’s first term. However, they agreed not to amend the bill to avoid further delays in reopening the government.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro condemned the clause, saying those senators voted “to shove taxpayer dollars into their own pockets.”
Coffee inflation exposes cracks in America’s food economy — and the limits of tariff politics
Congress faces new deadlines after reopening
With the shutdown over, lawmakers face a tight four-week schedule before year’s end. They must address the expiring Obamacare subsidies, the farm bill, and several energy credits.
Trump said he plans to “revamp” the health care system rather than extend existing programs, setting up another political battle. House Republicans also aim to pass more spending bills to strengthen their position before the next funding deadline on January 30.
Meanwhile, Johnson announced a vote next week to compel the Department of Justice to release all Jeffrey Epstein case files, after a petition led by Rep. Adelita Grijalva gained enough signatures. The move comes as new documents from Epstein’s estate have drawn fresh scrutiny in Washington.
The reopening ends the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, allowing millions of federal workers to return to their jobs and restoring vital public services after more than six weeks of disruption.