Government Reopens After 43-Day Shutdown

After six weeks of closure, the U.S. government officially reopened on November 12, marking the end of the longest shutdown in American history.

Following a 222–209 vote in the House of Representatives, a Republican-backed funding bill was passed to keep the government open through January 31, with continued funding for several major federal programs. President Donald Trump signed the bill at 9:45 p.m., officially ending the 43-day shutdown.

The legislation restores pay for federal employees and military personnel and secures funding for key programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), which provides food assistance to over 42 million Americans.

“Republicans never wanted a shutdown,” Trump said. “Yet extremists in the other party insisted on creating the longest shutdown in American history for political reasons. Now, it’s time to get our country working again.”

Trump noted that the shutdown had caused over 20,000 flight delays, one million unpaid federal employees, and disruptions to essential services nationwide.

How the Shutdown Began

The crisis began when Congress failed to pass a budget before the October 1 deadline. Republicans in the House had approved a continuing resolution to maintain government funding temporarily, but disagreements in the Senate — particularly over extending Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) subsidies — led to the funding lapse.

As the stalemate continued, federal operations halted for more than 40 days, delaying paychecks and threatening critical benefits.

On November 10, the Senate broke the deadlock by passing a series of bipartisan funding measures and a continuing resolution to finance the government through January 30, 2026.

The Final Vote

Early on November 12, the House approved the Senate’s plan with a 222–209 vote.

• Six Democrats crossed party lines to support reopening the government.

• Two Republicans opposed the measure.

The package includes funding for veterans’ services, the FDA, and the Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) praised the vote, saying, “From the beginning, Republicans acted in good faith to end this ordeal. We’re not going to waste any more of the American people’s time.”

Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) defended his party’s position, emphasizing the importance of protecting health care access and addressing the high cost of living.

What Comes Next

With the government now reopened, lawmakers have until January 30 to finalize a long-term budget deal. Both parties have signaled their intention to prevent another shutdown, though debates over spending and healthcare policy remain unresolved.