The United States ended its longest government shutdown late Wednesday after President Donald Trump approved a bipartisan agreement to restore federal funding. The shutdown, which began on October 1 and stretched for 43 days, surpassed the previous record and left millions of Americans feeling the disruption across federal services.
The turning point came in the House of Representatives, where lawmakers voted 222-209 to advance the bill. A small group of Democrats broke ranks and supported the Republican-backed proposal, giving it the margin needed to pass. Their unexpected support-coming from members representing states such as Alaska, Washington, Maine, Arizona, and Texas-created an immediate split within their party, with progressive colleagues voicing sharp criticism.
Once the House approved the funding plan, the Senate moved quickly, offering broad bipartisan support. President Trump signed the bill shortly afterward, clearing the way for agencies to reopen and for furloughed federal workers to return to their jobs. Government departments have already begun the process of restarting operations, issuing back pay, and restoring suspended services.
The shutdown left a significant mark on public life, delaying federal programs, slowing economic activity, and pushing thousands of government employees into financial strain. As operations resume, both parties face lingering political fallout and renewed questions about the negotiations that allowed the closure to drag on for more than six weeks.
For now, however, the nation’s longest funding standoff has come to an end, allowing federal services to move back toward normalcy after weeks of uncertainty.
