Trump Signs Bill Ending Longest U.S. Government Shutdown In History

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald J. Trump signed legislation late Wednesday ending the longest government shutdown in American history, just hours after the House of Representatives approved a funding package to restart key services disrupted for 43 days.

The Republican-controlled House voted 222-209 to reopen the government, with Trump’s backing helping keep most of his party united despite fierce Democratic opposition. Democratic lawmakers expressed anger that the shutdown — triggered by their Senate colleagues’ push for extending federal health-insurance subsidies — ended without securing a deal to preserve the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced tax credits, which expire at year’s end.

Trump’s signature, following Senate approval earlier in the week, will bring hundreds of thousands of furloughed or unpaid federal workers back on the job as early as Thursday. But officials warned it remains unclear how quickly agencies can fully restore normal operations, including food-assistance payments and a strained air-traffic control network.

‘NO WAY TO RUN A COUNTRY’

At a late-night signing ceremony, Trump said the weeks-long standoff had severely harmed Americans and vowed: “This is no way to run a country. We can never let this happen again.”

The temporary funding bill keeps the government open through January 30, 2026, maintaining current spending levels. It also guarantees a December vote on the disputed health-insurance subsidies, popularly known as part of “Obamacare,” named after President Barack Obama. However, there is no commitment that they will be extended — a major Democratic frustration.

The shutdown, which began October 1, had far-reaching consequences: more than 700,000 federal workers were either furloughed or forced to work without pay, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were disrupted for millions of low-income families, and staffing shortages strained airport security and air-traffic operations nationwide.

With the government now moving to restore full functionality, economists warn that the shutdown likely caused billions in lost productivity and may further weigh on U.S. growth. Analysts also caution that without a long-term budget agreement — especially on healthcare subsidies — another funding showdown could loom early next year.

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