WASHINGTON (Realist English). President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed legislation to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, reopening federal agencies after 43 days of closure that left hundreds of thousands of workers unpaid and disrupted essential public services.
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed the funding bill by a vote of 222 to 209, following Senate approval earlier in the week. Trump’s backing was crucial in maintaining party unity amid fierce opposition from House Democrats, who remain frustrated that the standoff failed to secure an extension of federal health insurance subsidies.
“This is no way to run a country,” Trump said during a late-night signing ceremony in the Oval Office. “We can never let this happen again,” he added, while blaming Democrats for what he called a “politically motivated blockade.”
The deal funds the government through January 30, but analysts warn it leaves the United States on track to add $1.8 trillion annually to its already $38 trillion national debt.
The shutdown, which began in late September, had halted key federal functions, including air traffic control, food assistance programs, and the release of economic data vital to investors and policymakers. Economists estimate that the closure shaved more than 0.1 percentage point off GDP each week, though most of the lost output is expected to be recovered in the coming months.
Some impacts, however, may be lasting. The White House said that October employment and inflation data may never be published due to disruptions in statistical reporting.
Representative David Schweikert of Arizona likened Congress’s handling of the shutdown to “a Seinfeld episode,” saying: “We just spent 40 days and I still don’t know what the plotline was.”
The resumption of government services offers some relief ahead of the busy Thanksgiving travel season, as well as the restoration of food aid to millions of families heading into the holidays.
Still, political divisions remain sharp. Democrats accused the administration of using the shutdown to erode social protections, while Republicans argued it was necessary to rein in government spending.
Outgoing Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill, recently elected governor of New Jersey, delivered an emotional farewell speech opposing the bill: “Do not let this body become a ceremonial red stamp for an administration that takes food away from children and rips away healthcare.”
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Wednesday found Americans divided over responsibility for the crisis, with 50% blaming Republicans and 47% blaming Democrats, suggesting no clear political winner.
Beyond reopening the government, the legislation contains provisions that allow eight Republican senators to seek damages for alleged privacy violations related to the January 6 Capitol investigation, restricting the Justice Department’s access to lawmakers’ phone data without disclosure.
For now, the focus shifts back to the House of Representatives, which faces a new test of unity ahead of December votes on healthcare subsidies and a looming debate over the release of unclassified Jeffrey Epstein case records — an issue that continues to shadow Washington’s political landscape.
