President Donald Trump has just signed a bipartisan stopgap spending bill into law, officially ending the longest government shutdown in American history after 43 grueling days. The signing, which took place in the Oval Office at 9:45 p.m. Eastern Time, brings immediate relief to over 1.2 million furloughed federal workers and restores critical government services that had ground to a halt since October 1.
Flanked by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), and key Republican negotiators, Trump praised the deal as a “total victory” for the GOP. “We never gave in to Democrat extortion,” the president declared, holding the 328-page bill aloft. “America is back to work – stronger, smarter, and fully funded through January.”
The shutdown – triggered by a bitter partisan clash over federal spending and the fate of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies – had paralyzed large swaths of the federal government. National parks closed, air travel faced mounting delays, food safety inspections were suspended, and millions of Americans saw delays in tax refunds, passports, and veterans’ services.
The compromise bill, passed by the House earlier Wednesday in a narrow 222-209 vote, funds federal agencies at current FY2025 levels through January 30, 2026. Six Democrats joined all Republicans in support, while most in the minority party voted no, citing the bill’s failure to permanently extend ACA premium subsidies set to expire December 31.
“Tonight, we choose progress over politics,” said Speaker Johnson. “This bill keeps the government open, protects our military, and stops wasteful spending – all without caving to radical demands.”
Democrats, however, framed the outcome as a hard-fought draw. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) secured a binding commitment for a standalone vote in December on extending ACA credits for 24 million Americans. “We didn’t get everything,” Schumer told reporters outside the Capitol, “but we forced Republicans to the table – and the fight for healthcare isn’t over.”
The breakthrough came after a chaotic weekend of closed-door talks on Capitol Hill. Seven Senate Democrats and one independent crossed party lines to advance the bill late Monday, citing mounting public pressure and economic damage. Off-year election results earlier in November – including Democratic gubernatorial wins in Virginia and New Jersey – had intensified GOP concerns about political fallout.
Economists estimate the 43-day shutdown shaved at least 0.4% off fourth-quarter GDP growth, with weekly losses exceeding $2 billion in federal worker wages alone. Air traffic controllers worked without pay, leading to widespread flight delays. Food banks reported shortages, and small businesses near federal sites saw sharp revenue drops.
Federal employees will receive full back pay under the bill, and most agencies are expected to resume normal operations by Friday, November 14. The IRS has announced expedited processing for delayed tax documents, while the National Park Service plans phased reopenings beginning Thursday morning.
While the shutdown is over, the underlying budget battle is far from resolved. Lawmakers now face a January 30 deadline to pass full-year appropriations or risk another lapse. Democrats vow to make ACA subsidies a centerpiece of year-end talks, while Republicans push for deeper cuts to non-defense discretionary spending.
President Trump hinted at a broader fiscal agenda in his signing remarks. “This is just the beginning,” he said. “In January, we’ll pass the biggest tax cut in history – and we’ll fund the wall, the military, and American greatness.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the president will address the nation from the Oval Office Thursday at 8:00 p.m. ET to discuss the shutdown’s end and his second-term priorities.
For now, Washington breathes a sigh of relief. Federal workers are heading back to their desks, travelers are booking flights with confidence, and the machinery of government – battered but intact – begins to turn again.
The longest shutdown in U.S. history is over. But in a deeply divided capital, the clock is already ticking toward the next showdown.