US Government Reopens After Historic 43-Day Shutdown
WASHINGTON D.C. – The United States government officially ended its 43-day partial shutdown late last night after Congress passed, and president Trump signed, a bill funding government operations through January 30, 2026. This marks the longest government closure in US history. The bill passed the Senate earlier this week with a vote of 60-40 and the House of Representatives with 222-209, largely along party lines, with most Republicans in favor and most Democrats opposed.
The agreement concludes weeks of political deadlock, finally reached with the support of eight Democrats in the Senate. While Democrats had sought to leverage the deal for an extension of health insurance subsidies for 24 million Americans, that effort was unsuccessful, though a vote on the issue is scheduled for next month.
Correspondent Erik Mouthaan previously explained the significant consequences of the shutdown, noting that approximately 670,000 civil servants who were furloughed will return to work in the coming days. Furthermore,the 730,000 federal employees who continued working without pay will receive back wages. Crucially, food aid programs for low-income Americans, a point of considerable debate during the crisis, will be promptly reinstated.
The 300+ page bill’s passage comes as a relief after widespread disruption, including significant travel delays. President Trump stated last night from the White House that the shutdown caused 20,000 flights to be canceled or delayed. The shutdown also created major problems at American airports, as reported by RTL Nieuws.
While the immediate crisis is over, the underlying political issues that led to the shutdown remain unresolved, setting the stage for potential future conflicts over government funding.
