President Donald Trump has signed legislation officially ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, bringing relief to hundreds of thousands of federal workers and restoring key public services that had been paralyzed for 43 days.
“This is no way to run a country. We can never let this happen again.” — President Donald Trump
Trump made the remarks during a late-night signing ceremony in the Oval Office, where he also criticized Democrats for their handling of the standoff.
A Bitter Standoff Comes to an End
The shutdown began after a partisan impasse over health insurance subsidies, which House Democrats had demanded be extended. Despite weeks of negotiations, no long-term agreement was reached.
Republican Representative David Schweikert of Arizona expressed frustration, comparing the drawn-out ordeal to a “Seinfeld episode.”
“We just spent 40 days, and I still don’t know what the plotline was. What’s happened now when rage becomes policy?” — Rep. David Schweikert
Economic and Public Impact
The shutdown took a toll on the U.S. economy, shaving off more than 0.1% of GDP for each of its six weeks, according to economists. While most of the lost output is expected to recover, some economic data — including October’s employment and Consumer Price Index reports — may never be released.
Federal employees are expected to return to work as early as Thursday, though it remains uncertain how long full government operations will take to resume. The deal also offers a brief recovery window before the busy Thanksgiving travel period and the Christmas shopping season.
Political Fallout and Next Steps
Democrats view the outcome as a missed opportunity to secure healthcare subsidy extensions, while Republicans have touted it as a necessary step to restore government stability.
Representative Mikie Sherrill, who is stepping down to become New Jersey’s next governor, delivered an impassioned farewell speech urging lawmakers to stand firm against Trump’s administration:
“Do not let this body become a ceremonial red stamp for an administration that takes food from children and strips away healthcare. To the country: stand strong. Don’t give up the ship.” — Rep. Mikie Sherrill
Despite both sides claiming small victories, no clear winner emerged from the shutdown. A Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed that 50% of Americans blamed Republicans, while 47% blamed Democrats for the crisis.
Other Congressional Developments
The House also welcomed Adelita Grijalva, who was sworn in to fill her late father’s Arizona seat, and her addition provided the decisive signature for a petition to force a vote on releasing unclassified Jeffrey Epstein records — an issue long resisted by Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Meanwhile, the new funding bill includes provisions allowing Republican senators to seek damages over alleged privacy violations tied to the January 6 Capitol investigation, granting them the right to sue the Justice Department for up to $500,000 in compensation.
Reporting by: David Morgan, Nolan D. McCaskill, Bo Erickson, and Gram Slattery
Additional reporting by: Jason Lange, David Shepardson, and Jeff Mason
Editing by: Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone, Alistair Bell, Edmund Klamann, and Lincoln Feast.
