The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill on Wednesday to bring an end to the longest government shutdown in the country’s history. President Donald Trump signed the bill later that evening, signaling the conclusion of a 43-day funding gap that left federal workers without pay, caused travel disruptions at airports, and forced people to seek assistance from food banks to feed their families.
Returning to Washington, D.C. after an extended absence, House lawmakers, supported by a narrow Republican majority, successfully passed the bill with a vote of 222-209. The Senate had already given its approval to the measure.
President Trump’s endorsement of the bill marks the end of his second government shutdown while in office, a shutdown that exacerbated political divisions in Washington. The administration’s unilateral actions during the shutdown, such as project cancellations and attempts to dismiss federal employees, were aimed at pressuring Democrats to concede to their demands.
The primary point of contention between Democrats and Republicans was the extension of a health coverage tax credit set to expire at the end of the year. Democrats insisted on including this provision in the short-term spending bill, while Republicans argued that this issue should be addressed separately.
The shutdown highlighted the deep ideological divide within Congress, with lawmakers from both parties engaging in heated debates on the House floor. Republicans accused Democrats of exploiting the shutdown’s hardships to advance their policy agenda, while Democrats criticized Republicans for prioritizing tax breaks over healthcare assistance for families.
Despite the bill’s passage, Democrats vowed to continue fighting for the extension of health-care subsidies. The compromise legislation funds three annual spending bills and extends government funding until January 30. Republicans committed to holding a vote on extending health-care subsidies by mid-December, but the outcome remains uncertain.
The bill also includes provisions to reinstate fired federal workers, protect employees from further layoffs until January, and ensure they receive back pay once the shutdown ends.