President Donald Trump has signed a spending bill to end the longest US government shutdown 2025, bringing an end to 43 days of disruption.
The House of Representatives voted 222-209 on Wednesday night to approve the short-term funding measure. Trump signed it into law hours later.
Around 1.4 million federal employees have been on unpaid leave or working without pay since the shutdown began on 1 October.
“The government will now resume normal operations,” Trump said in the Oval Office. “People were hurt so badly.”
Why did it happen?
The US government shutdown 2025 began when Senate Democrats refused to support a temporary funding bill. They demanded Republicans agree to extend health insurance subsidies for low-income Americans.
Those subsidies, part of the Affordable Care Act, are set to expire at the end of December.
Republicans argued the healthcare discussion could wait until after the government reopened. Senate Democrats, despite being the minority party, had enough votes to block the funding bill.
“They did it purely for political reasons,” Trump said Wednesday, blaming Democrats for the shutdown.
The standoff lasted 41 days before eight Senate Democrats broke from their party on Sunday. They voted with Republicans in exchange for a promise of a December vote on healthcare subsidies.
Who was affected?
Air travel faced severe disruptions during the US government shutdown 2025. The Federal Aviation Administration reduced air traffic by 6% on Tuesday due to staff shortages.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned the percentage would “increase substantially” if the shutdown continued.
Air traffic controllers missed two paychecks but were still required to work. Some took second jobs to make ends meet, government and union officials said.
White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said flights should be “almost back to normal” by Thanksgiving weekend.
Food assistance programs were also affected. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food aid to one in eight Americans, faced funding uncertainty.
The Trump administration paused SNAP contributions on 1 November, though the new funding bill extends the program through September 2026.
Federal workers will receive back pay for the entire shutdown period under the deal.
What’s in the spending deal?
The US government shutdown 2025 ended with a funding package that extends government operations until 30 January.
The bill includes:
- Full-year funding for the Department of Agriculture
- Funding for military construction and legislative agencies
- Guaranteed back pay for all federal workers
- SNAP funding through September 2026
- A promise to vote on healthcare subsidies in December
The deal also reverses all shutdown-related layoffs of federal employees. It includes provisions to prevent the White House from using continuing resolutions to avoid long-term budget decisions.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he committed to holding a vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies by the second week of December.
Political fallout
The US government shutdown 2025 deal has sparked anger within the Democratic Party.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and California Governor Gavin Newsom publicly criticized the eight Democrats who voted with Republicans.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the package “fails to do anything of substance to fix America’s healthcare crisis.”
But Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who voted for the compromise, pushed back. He said federal workers he represents were “saying thank you” for agreeing the deal.
House Rules Chairwoman Virginia Foxx said Democrats walked away “empty handed,” noting they did not get enhanced health care subsidies extended despite their demands.
Dramatic moments in Congress
Wisconsin Republican Derrick Van Orden rode his motorcycle nearly 1,000 miles across the country to cast his vote in the House. Flight disruptions prevented him from flying to Washington.
Hours before the House vote, Democrat Adelita Grijalva was sworn into office. She is stepping into the Arizona seat once held by her father, Raul Grijalva, who died earlier this year.
The House has not been in session since 19 September, delaying her swearing-in ceremony.
Democrats immediately tapped their newest member to back a petition forcing a vote on legislation requiring the release of files related to late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
House Speaker Mike Johnson surprised many by saying he would schedule that vote for next week.
What comes next?
The US government shutdown 2025 may be over, but the relief is temporary.
The funding bill only keeps the government open until 30 January. Lawmakers will need to find a way to fund the government again in less than three months.
Government services are expected to reopen in the coming days. Disruptions to air travel will likely ease ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
But the fundamental disagreements between Democrats and Republicans remain unresolved. The December vote on healthcare subsidies will test whether the two parties can find compromise.
If they cannot, another shutdown could loom in January.
The US government shutdown 2025 lasted 43 days and affected millions of Americans. Whether it marks the end of political gridlock or merely a pause remains to be seen.
Trump warned Democrats before signing the bill: “When we come up to midterms and other things, don’t forget what they’ve done to our country.”
Impact by the numbers
- 43 days: Length of the US government shutdown 2025
- 1.4 million: Federal employees affected
- 222-209: House vote to end shutdown
- 60-40: Senate vote to approve funding measure
- 6%: Air traffic reduction at peak of crisis
- 30 January: New deadline for government funding
- 8: Senate Democrats who broke with their party
The longest government shutdown in US history has ended. But with another funding deadline just weeks away, political tensions remain high in Washington.
