Donald Trump Signs Bill to End Longest Government Shutdown in U.S. History
President Donald Trump signed a bill to reopen the federal government, finally putting an end to the longest shutdown America’s ever seen. After weeks of back-and-forth and mounting frustration, lawmakers managed to strike a deal that restarts government funding and brings some real relief to millions of federal workers and citizens who had been caught in the 40-day stall.
The new bill keeps the government running at current funding levels for fiscal year 2025, through January 30, 2026. Lawmakers now have a bit more breathing room to hammer out a longer-term deal for the next budget cycle. This all comes after funding ran out on October 1, triggering a shutdown that rippled across the country and jammed up everything from airports to national parks.
Thousands of federal employees missed paychecks. Essential services got stretched thin. Travelers saw flight delays as air traffic controllers worked understaffed. Pressure built on everyone, and the demand for a solution just kept growing.
Relief for Workers and Government Programs
This bill does more than just turn the lights back on. It reverses layoffs from last October, so those who lost their jobs get their positions—and their back pay—restored. That’s a lifeline for people who went more than a month without a paycheck.
The bill also extends funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through September 2026. SNAP helps over 42 million Americans—mostly low-income families—put food on the table. By keeping this program funded, Congress made sure some of the country’s most vulnerable aren’t left in the lurch.
Political Divide and How They Got to a Deal.Donald Trump Signs Bill to End Longest Government Shutdown in U.S. History
This shutdown started with a bitter standoff between Senate Republicans and Democrats over a short-term funding bill. For weeks, nobody budged. Then, late Monday night, the Senate finally broke through, passing the bill 60–40. Eight Democrats crossed the aisle, giving the measure enough steam to move forward.
The House picked up the baton and passed its own version two days later. Trump signed it soon after. It’s a temporary pause in the bigger fight over government spending and the direction of key programs, but at least things are moving again.
The Affordable Care Act Sticking Point
The biggest argument during negotiations revolved around the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its subsidies. Democrats wanted to lock in ACA subsidies that are set to expire at the end of 2025. Trump’s stopgap bill didn’t include those extensions.
To get the bill through the Senate, Majority Leader John Thune promised a separate vote in December to address the subsidies. That was enough to win over just enough Democrats. But over in the House, Speaker Mike Johnson still hasn’t backed the deal, so this fight over health care funding isn’t over yet.Donald Trump Signs Bill to End Longest Government Shutdown in U.S. History
What Happens Next?
With the government officially reopened, Congress needs to get back to work on a full appropriations bill for 2026 before the clock runs out at the end of January. Departments—especially those handling transportation, social services, and security—will need weeks to get everything running smoothly again.
Trump’s decision to sign the bill brings some short-term relief and ends a damaging standoff, but it also highlights just how divided Congress really is. Federal workers, families who depend on government aid, and businesses disrupted by the shutdown can breathe a little easier, though the road ahead is still uncertain.
This was the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Now, agencies are scrambling to catch up on everything that got put on hold. Analysts expect it’ll take time to get back to normal.Donald Trump Signs Bill to End Longest Government Shutdown in U.S. History
From here, the real challenge is restoring trust, keeping things stable, and finding a way to avoid another mess like this. Nobody knows if the fragile cooperation that ended the shutdown will last, but for now, at least, the government is open and back on the job.
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