Trump signs bill ending longest government shutdown in US history
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President Donald Trump signed legislation to refinance the government, ending the longest government shutdown in US history.
Trump signaled on Monday that the government would reopen soon; The consequences of the funding cut continued to snowball, including missed paychecks for federal employees and airline delays caused by air traffic controller staffing shortages.
The bill continues to provide the government with the same levels of funding through fiscal year 2025 through January 30 to provide additional time to identify a longer appropriations measure for fiscal year 2026.
The measure also funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which more than 42 million Americans relied on through September. The program supports no-income or low-income individuals or families to purchase groceries with a debit card.
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters aboard Air Force One en route to South Korea on October 29, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
THE LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN HISTORY IS NEARING ITS POSSIBLE END AS THE HOUSE SWITCHES TO FUNDING.
Additionally, the measure reverses layoffs the Trump administration implemented in early October and pays employees not to come to work.
The reopening of the government comes after more than 40 days of a halt in funding amid a deadlock between Senate Republicans and Democrats over a stopgap spending bill that would fund the government through Nov. 21.
After funding was cut effective Oct. 1, the Senate passed legislation Monday night to reopen the government by a 60-40 vote. A total of eight Democrats voted for the measure, along with their Republican colleagues. The House then passed its own version of the measure on Wednesday.
The White House is seen the day after President Donald Trump announced US military strikes on nuclear sites in Iran in Washington, DC, on June 22, 2025. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
THE 5 LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN HISTORY: WHAT HAPPENED, HOW IT ENDED
The deal comes as the effects of the shutdown are at their peak, including travel disruptions at U.S. airports where air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers must work and are preparing to miss their second paycheck.
As a result, these employees were calling in sick or taking second jobs, causing staff shortages and flight delays.
The disagreement between Republicans and Democrats stemmed from disagreements over various health care provisions to be included in a potential funding measure. Trump and Republicans claimed Democrats want to provide health care to illegal immigrants and pointed to a provision that would repeal a portion of Trump’s tax and domestic policy bill, known as the “big, beautiful bill,” that reduces Medicaid eligibility for non-U.S. citizens.
Sunrise light hits the U.S. Capitol dome on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN HAS BECOME THE LONGEST DURATION IN US HISTORY AS DEMOCRATS ENJOY OBAMACARE
Democrats have pushed back on that characterization and said they want to permanently extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of 2025.
The stopgap spending bill Trump signed does not extend these subsidies through the end of the year, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) agreed to vote on legislation to continue these credits in December.
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However, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., did not agree to participate in this arrangement in the House.
Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
