After six weeks of disruption, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history has officially ended as President Donald Trump signed a funding bill late Wednesday night, restoring government operations and pay for millions of Americans.
The bill, which passed the House 222–209 with support from six Democrats, reinstates last year’s spending levels through January’s end and resumes funding for essential programs like SNAP, which aids one in eight Americans. Federal employees will receive back pay, and previously halted services will resume.
Despite the breakthrough, the deal leaves unresolved disputes over expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies — a key Democratic concern. Senate Majority Leader John Thune promised a mid-December vote on legislation to extend them, though some lawmakers called it only a “handshake deal.”
Senator Tammy Baldwin criticized the temporary measure for failing to guarantee relief from rising health costs, while Speaker Mike Johnson has yet to commit to a House vote.
The 43-day shutdown caused widespread hardship — suspending food benefits, delaying paychecks, and disrupting air travel nationwide. Supporters of the funding bill argued that continuing the standoff would only deepen public suffering without changing the result.
Although the immediate crisis has ended, both parties now face renewed budget negotiations and the unresolved ACA subsidy issue. For now, Americans can expect government services and paychecks to resume after more than a month of uncertainty.
Read more: US Government Shutdown Becomes Longest in History
