Trump Ends Record Shutdown by Signing Temporary Funding Bill

Published: 13 November 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online

President Donald Trump has signed a short-term spending bill to reopen the federal government, officially ending the longest shutdown in United States history. The bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives in a 222–209 vote late Wednesday night and approved narrowly by the Senate two days earlier, brings an end to the 43-day impasse that left federal workers unpaid and many public services suspended.

Speaking from the Oval Office after signing the legislation into law, President Trump said the government would “resume normal operations,” acknowledging the hardship many Americans endured during the shutdown. “People were hurt so badly,” he said, referring to the 1.4 million federal employees who were either furloughed or working without pay since the shutdown began in October.

The funding package allows government agencies to reopen in the coming days, restoring critical services and easing travel disruptions that had rippled across the country. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had been forced to scale back operations due to staff shortages, leading to widespread flight delays. Officials hope normal air traffic control services will resume before the busy Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

The effects of the shutdown were felt nationwide — from delayed food aid programmes and halted infrastructure projects to the suspension of various social services. Even members of Congress faced difficulties returning to Washington to cast their votes. Wisconsin Republican Derrick Van Orden famously rode his motorcycle nearly 1,000 miles to reach the Capitol in time for the final vote.

However, the measure is a temporary fix. It only funds the government until 30 January, meaning lawmakers will need to revisit the issue early in the new year to prevent another potential shutdown.

Before signing the bill, Trump placed blame squarely on Democrats for causing the deadlock. “They did it purely for political reasons,” he said. “When we come up to midterms and other things, don’t forget what they’ve done to our country.”

The dispute began when Senate Democrats, though in the minority, refused to back a temporary funding bill unless Republicans agreed to extend key health insurance subsidies for low-income Americans, which were due to expire at the end of the year. Republicans insisted that such policy discussions should take place only after government operations were restored.

After weeks of deadlock, a breakthrough came when eight Senate Democrats broke ranks, voting in favour of the compromise measure in exchange for a promise of a future vote in December on extending those healthcare subsidies. The move prompted sharp criticism from within their party.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the deal, arguing it offered no meaningful solutions to the nation’s healthcare challenges. Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader in the Senate, called the package “a failure to address America’s healthcare crisis.”

However, others defended the compromise. Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, one of the Democrats who supported the measure, said federal workers in his state were “saying thank you” for reaching an agreement that allowed them to return to work and receive back pay.

The funding bill also guarantees that all federal employees will be fully compensated for the period they went without pay during the shutdown. It provides full-year funding for the Department of Agriculture, military construction projects, and legislative agencies. Additionally, it ensures continued funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which supports roughly one in eight Americans, through to September next year.

Wednesday’s session also saw the swearing-in of Adelita Grijalva, the newest Democratic representative from Arizona. Her arrival was met with applause on the House floor, though her addition did not alter the balance of power enough to influence the outcome of the funding vote.

Grijalva, elected on 23 September to fill the seat once held by her late father, Congressman Raul Grijalva, was immediately involved in party efforts to advance a separate legislative initiative. Democrats tapped her to back a petition seeking the release of files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The petition, which requires seven legislative days before it can be formally considered, will force House leadership to schedule a vote within two legislative days once the waiting period expires.

In a surprise move, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the vote on the Epstein documents would be scheduled for next week.

While the immediate crisis has been resolved, the political battle over government funding and healthcare policy is far from over. Both parties are now preparing for renewed negotiations ahead of the 30 January deadline, setting the stage for another high-stakes showdown in Washington.