Washington, D.C. — November 12, 2025. President Donald Trump signed into law a funding bill that officially ends the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, lasting 43 days and affecting more than one million federal employees across the country.

The legislation, passed by the House of Representatives in a 222–209 vote, funds the federal government through January 2026. The bill was signed during a ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House, attended by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Minority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), Republican lawmakers, and business leaders.

Before signing, Trump stated that “The Democrats tried to extort our country,” while emphasizing the importance of avoiding future shutdowns. “People were hurt so badly. We can never let this happen again,” he added, referring to the more than one million workers who were furloughed and the significant disruptions to public services.

The shutdown, which began on October 1, was triggered by a standoff in Congress, as Senate Democrats refused to approve a funding bill that did not include an extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits. On Sunday, a group of Democratic senators agreed to back a new measure, paving the way for Wednesday night’s vote.

Political Reactions

Republican leaders hailed the passage of the bill as a necessary step to restore normalcy. “My friends, let’s get this done,” said Speaker Johnson on the House floor before the vote. Only two Republicans, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Greg Steube of Florida, voted against the measure, while six Democrats broke ranks with their party to support it.

In a brief statement, Trump called on the Senate to end the filibuster rule, which requires 60 votes to pass most legislation, including temporary funding resolutions. He did not take questions from reporters following the signing ceremony.

Economic and Social Impact

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) instructed federal employees to return to work on Thursday, November 13, noting that agencies should “take all necessary steps to ensure a prompt and orderly reopening.”

The Department of Transportation announced that it would freeze planned flight cuts related to the shortage of air traffic controllers during the shutdown. As of Tuesday, 6% of scheduled U.S. flights were canceled, a figure that was expected to rise to 10% by the weekend.

Food stamp distribution and other public benefits will take time to return to normal, with each state adjusting payment schedules independently.

A Path Forward

Despite partisan divisions, Trump signaled openness to future cooperation with Democrats, particularly on health care reform. “I’m always willing to work with anyone, including the other party,” he said. “We’ll work on something having to do with health care. We can do a lot better.”

The newly signed bill provides temporary relief but sets up a new funding deadline of January 30, 2026, potentially opening the door to renewed negotiations—and political tension—early next year.