President Donald Trump signed a spending bill on Wednesday night, officially reopening the government and ending the longest shutdown in US history after 43 days of paralyzing gridlock. The House of Representatives approved the bill with a 222-209 vote, following a narrow Senate approval just two days earlier.
In the Oval Office, Trump announced that the government would “resume normal operations” after the shutdown caused significant hardship for many Americans. Since October, approximately 1.4 million federal employees faced unpaid leave or worked without pay. Additionally, food aid programs stalled, and air travel disruptions affected travelers nationwide.
Government services are set to resume in the coming days, alleviating air travel disruptions just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had reduced air traffic due to staff shortages caused by the shutdown which directly impacted members of Congress trying to reach the capital for the House vote.
Wisconsin Republican Derrick Van Orden rode nearly 1,000 miles on his motorcycle to cast his vote before the bill reached the president’s desk.
Temporary Funding with Future Challenges
The spending bill funds the government only until 30 January, requiring lawmakers to negotiate again soon. Before signing, Trump blamed the Democratic Party for the shutdown, stating, “They did it purely for political reasons,” urging voters to remember this during upcoming midterm elections.
Senate Democrats initially resisted the funding bill, demanding an extension of health insurance subsidies for low-income Americans. However, a group of eight Senate Democrats ultimately supported the bill in exchange for a promise of a vote on healthcare subsidies in December, sparking anger within the Democratic Party, with leaders like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressing public criticism.
New Member Joins Congress Amid Tensions
Hours before the House vote, Democrats welcomed their newest member, Adelita Grijalva, who was sworn in after a delay. Grijalva, representing Arizona, stepped into the seat previously held by her late father, Raul Grijalva. She quickly joined efforts to push for a vote on legislation related to Jeffrey Epstein.
The spending deal extends federal funding until 30 January and includes full-year funding for the Department of Agriculture, military construction, and legislative agencies. It guarantees that all federal workers will receive pay for the shutdown period and secures funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) until September. The bill also promises a vote in December on extending healthcare subsidies.
