President Donald Trump signed legislation late Wednesday officially ending the 43-day government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. The funding measure, approved by both the House and Senate, extends federal agency operations through January 30, 2026, and includes three full-year appropriations for the Department of Agriculture and the FDA, the Department of Veterans Affairs, military construction projects, and the legislative branch.
The shutdown began on October 1 after lawmakers failed to agree on funding, leaving millions of federal employees without pay and disrupting services, including air travel and food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The standoff stemmed from Democratic demands to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, which Republicans insisted should be negotiated separately from government funding.
After weeks of stalled talks, a breakthrough came in early November when eight moderate Senate Democrats agreed to advance a funding package that included a vote on health care subsidies, restored agency operations, and reversed administration layoffs. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and White House officials negotiated the measure, securing enough bipartisan support to move forward.
Trump hailed the legislation as a political victory, asserting, “We’re sending a clear message that we will never give in to extortion.” He emphasized that the country had been through a “short-term disaster with the Democrats” and celebrated the reopening of federal operations as proof that the nation was “working again.” The president also reiterated his call to eliminate the Senate filibuster, suggesting that doing so would prevent future funding crises.
The bill included a provision allowing senators to seek compensation if federal law enforcement obtained their electronic data without notification, a measure House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized as unwise. House Republicans plan to vote next week to reverse the language, with bipartisan support expected.
The House passed the funding package late Wednesday, paving the way for Trump’s Oval Office signing. Lawmakers noted that the agreement restores paychecks, safeguards essential services, and establishes a framework for bipartisan appropriations work in the months ahead.
