November 13, 2025 — Washington, D.C.
The federal government is slowly returning to life on Thursday after the longest shutdown in U.S. history, a 43-day impasse that disrupted air travel, halted food assistance for millions, and left over a million public workers without pay for more than a month.
Yet the bitter partisan divide that triggered the crisis remains as entrenched as ever.
The temporary funding bill that ended the shutdown offers little reassurance that the dysfunction is over. The measure imposes few limits on President Donald Trump’s control over federal spending, a key concern among Democrats, and leaves unresolved the dispute over health-care subsidies that originally prompted Senate Democrats to block the budget in October.
Lingering Tensions on Both Sides
The shutdown deepened fractures within both parties. Among Democrats, tensions flared between progressives — who urged a hard line against Trump — and moderates, who felt boxed in by the Republican-controlled Congress. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is now facing calls to step aside, despite opposing the final deal.
For federal employees, relief is finally on the way. The White House said back pay would begin on Saturday and be fully distributed by next Wednesday. Agencies that dismissed workers during the shutdown have been ordered to rescind terminations within five days, according to federal workforce officials.
Voters Split the Blame
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows that Americans assign responsibility for the shutdown nearly evenly: 50% blame Republicans, while 47% fault Democrats. Neither side appears to have gained politically from the ordeal.
But any sense of normalcy may be short-lived. The new deal only funds the government until January 30, meaning another shutdown could loom early next year.
This latest standoff was notable for what it did not include — a serious discussion of the $38 trillion national debt, which continues to grow by roughly $1.8 trillion annually.
Democrats Say Fight Was ‘Worth It’
Democrats defended their prolonged standoff as a necessary stand for affordable health care, highlighting the looming spike in insurance premiums for nearly 24 million Americans.
“The health of the American people is a fight worth having,” said Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.). “We made clear what’s at stake, and now voters understand the urgency.”
However, Democrats emerged with only a non-binding promise that the Senate will hold a future vote on the subsidies — with no guarantee of passage.
Republicans Decry Shutdown Tactics
Several Republicans, often critical of Democrats during past shutdowns, echoed those same complaints this time.
“We ought to be legally prohibited from ever shutting down the government,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), calling the episode “absolutely insane.”
Flights, Benefits, and Jobs Resume
Air travel is returning to normal after thousands of flight cancellations caused by unpaid air traffic controllers calling in sick. Meanwhile, 42 million Americans reliant on SNAP food assistance will once again receive full benefits, with funding restored within 24 hours of reopening, according to the USDA.
The deal also blocks Trump’s attempt to fire thousands of federal workers during the shutdown and temporarily halts his broader plan to shrink the civil service by 300,000 jobs.
Economic Fallout Still Unclear
The shutdown left economists and investors “flying blind” as key data releases were suspended. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the 43-day closure delayed roughly $50 billion in spending and shaved 1.5 percentage points off GDP, with about $14 billion in losses unlikely to be recovered.
As the government sputters back to life, Americans may be left wondering how long it will stay that way — and whether Washington has learned anything from the chaos it created.
