U.S. Government Shutdown Ends After 43 Days with Trump Signing Bill

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history, lasting 43 days, officially ended on Wednesday when President Trump signed a funding bill into law. According to CBS News, the bill was a result of a compromise reached after weeks of gridlock that affected millions, including 42 million federal food aid recipients and 670,000 furloughed federal employees.

The legislation extends funding for most agencies until January 30, 2026, while providing full-year funding for other parts of the government. The Senate passed the measure with a bipartisan vote, where eight Democrats joined Republicans, a move that drew criticism from some Democrats who felt it did not adequately address their demands, particularly regarding health care tax credits that are set to expire soon.

House Speaker Mike Johnson labeled the shutdown as 'pointless' and 'cruel', while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries vowed that Democrats would continue to fight for affordable health care and the extension of health care tax credits.

Trump, in his remarks at the signing ceremony, accused Democrats of attempting to 'extort American taxpayers' by linking the funding bill to health care issues, although he expressed a willingness to collaborate with Democrats on health care in the future.

NPR reported that the shutdown caused significant disruptions, including delays at airports due to staffing shortages and the risk of millions losing access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

Furthermore, the deal struck to end the shutdown did not resolve the core issue of extending health care tax credits, leaving many Senate Democrats skeptical of the promised vote in December, with some expressing concern over the lack of guarantees.

The bipartisan deal included provisions to reverse layoffs of federal employees that occurred during the shutdown and ensured back pay for those affected. Despite the end of the shutdown, the political tensions remain palpable, with both parties preparing for future legislative battles as they gear up for the next funding deadline in January.

The resolution of this long shutdown underscores the complex interplay of bipartisan efforts amidst ongoing political strife, as highlighted by NBC News, which noted that historically, government shutdowns rarely yield significant political gains for either party.