Back in business: The Government shutdown is finally over
By Easton Martin | November 12, 2025
After a record 43 days, the federal government has reopened following House approval of a stopgap spending measure and President Trump’s signature on Wednesday.
The shutdown, which began October 1, was the longest in U.S. history and came to an end after weeks of political deadlock between Republicans and Democrats over healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.
The House passed the continuing resolution by a vote of 222 to 209, sending the measure to the president’s desk after the Senate approved it earlier in the week. The bill funds most federal operations through January 30, 2026, while providing full-year funding for military construction, veterans affairs, and agriculture programs.
Federal employees will begin returning to work immediately, and more than 650,000 furloughed workers will receive back pay. The legislation also reverses thousands of layoffs triggered during the shutdown and prohibits further reductions in force until at least the end of January.
The central dispute revolved around Democratic demands for a vote on extending ACA subsidies. Democrats insisted that enhanced healthcare subsidies be included in the spending deal, while Republicans maintained that such policies should be debated separately.
In the final compromise, Senate negotiators secured a promise to hold a vote on the issue in December, though the House made no formal commitment.
