New York, Nov. 13 – The 42‑day U.S. government shutdown that was the longest in history just ended when President Donald Trump signed a short‑term funding bill that cleared the way for federal operations to restart.
The shutdown stopped everything from air traffic control to free‑food programs for the poor. It began when the Republican‑led Senate could not get enough votes to move a budget bill forward. The vote required 60 votes, but only 48 were available.
Last week, eight Democrats crossed the aisle in the House of Representatives and joined Republicans to give the bill the 222‑to‑209 vote it needed. “It’s a great day,” Trump said at the signing. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the move a setback, saying the bill still “broke the rule of law,” because it bypassed the Senate’s normal rules.
Key points of the new law:
- Federal agencies receive temporary funding until the end of the year.
- Programs for veterans, food‑stamps, and other aid continue until September.
- Federal employees who were unpaid during the shutdown will receive back pay. This includes workers in air traffic control, airport security, and other “essential” roles.
- Obamacare subsidies are not restored. Republicans said the budget was a victory because it kept the Affordable Care Act unchanged. Democrats, led in the House by Hakeem Jeffries, warned that failure to extend subsidies could trigger a backlash at the next midterm election.
The vote shows how a single policy issue—whether to keep subsidies for the health‑insurance program—can spill over into everyday jobs and services. The shutdown cost the economy; small‑business owners, food‑bank workers, and millions of Americans dependent on federal aid suffered during the pause.
A controversial addition in the bill prohibits federal prosecutors from searching senators’ phone records without prior notice and allows up to $500,000 in compensation for violations. The provision is retroactive to 2022 and stems from investigations of the January 2021 Capitol riot.
The shutdown’s end also highlighted internal division. Senator Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who joined Republicans in the House vote, said she could not stand in front of a friend who uses food assistance and think the government was still in order.
As the United States moves toward the midterm elections, both parties face pressure. Trump has floated taking further actions against Obamacare and hinted at direct subsidies to consumers instead of insurance companies. Democrats argue that the shutdown was a political stunt that hurt ordinary Americans.
With the funding measure in place, government services resume. But full functionality will take time, and lawmakers still need to agree on a next‑year budget.
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