President Donald Trump has signed legislation ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, restoring funding and operations of the federal government. The stop-gap funding bill keeps government spending at current fiscal year 2025 levels through January 30, 2026, giving lawmakers more time to negotiate longer-term appropriations for the next fiscal year. Key provisions include continued support for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which over 42 million Americans depend on, and the reversal of layoffs that began during the funding lapse.
The shutdown, which started on October 1, stemmed from a bitter standoff between Republicans and Democrats over healthcare provisions and other policy riders. The deadlock led to travel disruptions and missed paychecks for hundreds of thousands of federal workers, particularly among air traffic controllers and TSA personnel. The Senate approved the reopening measure by a 60–40 vote, with eight Democrats joining Republicans, and the House quickly followed suit.
While the immediate crisis has been resolved, lawmakers now face the challenge of negotiating comprehensive funding bills and addressing ongoing disputes over Medicaid eligibility and healthcare subsidies.