Daijiworld Media Network - New York
New York, Nov 13: The United States’ longest-ever government shutdown came to an end after President Donald Trump signed a temporary funding bill passed by Congress, restoring federal operations that had been paralysed for 42 days.
The deadlock between Republicans and Democrats finally broke late Wednesday when the House of Representatives approved the Senate-passed legislation, marking the conclusion of weeks of political brinkmanship. Democrats failed to secure their key demand—an extension of subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare—a point that the White House celebrated as a victory.
“It’s a great day,” Trump declared after signing the bill, calling the development a success for Republicans who managed to pass the measure without conceding to Democratic conditions. The temporary funding will keep the government running until a full budget is negotiated later this year.
The impasse in the Senate was resolved when eight Democrats crossed party lines to vote with Republicans, providing the crucial votes needed to advance the bill. The final vote in the House was 222 to 209, largely along partisan lines, with a handful of defections on both sides.
With the shutdown officially over, federal agencies are beginning to reopen, though it may take several days for all services—from air travel oversight to food assistance programmes—to resume normal operations. Government employees, including those forced to stay home and those who worked without pay such as air traffic controllers and airport security personnel, will now receive full back pay.
Addressing the political fallout, Trump urged voters not to forget the disruption when they head to the polls in next year’s midterm elections.
Meanwhile, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries warned that if Republicans continued to block healthcare subsidies, “the American people will throw Republicans out of their jobs next year.”
Funding for essential programmes, including food assistance for about 42 million Americans and benefits for retired military personnel, will continue until September under the new legislation.
The prolonged shutdown had begun to strain both political parties—Republicans faced electoral backlash earlier this month, while Democratic lawmakers came under pressure from federal workers and low-income families affected by the halt in payments. That pressure led several Senate Democrats to break ranks, seeking an immediate resolution. Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, one of the Democrats who voted with Republicans, defended her decision, saying that her constituents “wouldn’t trade their dinner for an ambiguous Washington ‘messaging victory.’”
However, the defections have sparked discontent within the Democratic Party, with some members criticising Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for failing to prevent them.
The funding bill also includes a controversial provision—largely overlooked in the broader debate—barring federal prosecutors from searching senators’ phone records without prior notice. The measure, retroactive to 2022, allows compensation of up to $500,000 for violations, a response to the Justice Department’s search of lawmakers’ records during investigations into the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
Even as Trump claimed victory, he renewed his push to dismantle Obamacare, proposing that subsidies be given directly to citizens instead of insurance companies—arguing that the current system unfairly boosts corporate profits.
With the shutdown ended but deeper divisions laid bare, Washington now faces the challenge of crafting a long-term budget deal before the temporary funding expires at year’s end.