After 43 days of silence in government offices, grounded flights, and unpaid workers, the wheels of the US administration are finally turning again. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a funding bill passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, formally ending the longest government shutdown in American history.
The House of Representatives approved the measure 222–209, with six Democrats crossing party lines to back it and two Republicans voting against. The Senate had cleared the proposal earlier in the day. The bill provides funding to keep government agencies running through the end of January and ensures that all federal employees receive their pending salaries.
The shutdown began after lawmakers failed to agree on a budget when the fiscal year started. The main dispute centred on health insurance tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Democrats wanted to extend the credits to prevent higher insurance costs for millions of Americans, while Republicans preferred a short-term funding plan without additional spending commitments.
After signing the bill, President Trump said the agreement “sends a clear message that we will never give in to extortion,” adding that it was “an honour to get our country working again.”
During the six-week closure, thousands of federal workers were furloughed or worked without pay, airports faced staff shortages, and several public services, from food aid to passport processing were disrupted. Economists estimate the shutdown caused losses of around $11 billion, part of which may never be recovered.
With the funding haveing been restored, government offices are reopening and workers are returning to duty. But the hard-fought deal offers only temporary relief as lawmakers still face tough negotiations ahead on healthcare and long-term spending priorities that could again test Washington’s fragile political balance.
