President Donald Trump has signed a short-term spending bill to reopen the federal government, officially ending the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The bill was approved by the House of Representatives in a 222–209 vote on Wednesday evening, just two days after the Senate narrowly passed the same measure. Hours later, President Trump signed it into law from the Oval Office, declaring that federal agencies would “resume normal operations” following weeks of disruption.
The shutdown lasted 43 days and left an estimated 1.4 million federal workers either furloughed or working without pay. Critical programs such as food aid were left in limbo, while nationwide air travel faced delays due to staffing shortages within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). With the bill now enacted, government services are expected to restart in the coming days, easing pressure on federal employees and travelers ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The FAA had reduced air traffic management capacity during the shutdown, which directly affected travelers and even members of Congress. Representative Derrick Van Orden, a Republican from Wisconsin, rode his motorcycle nearly 1,000 miles to reach Washington in time for the House vote.
The funding measure signed by President Trump keeps the government open only until January 30, meaning lawmakers will soon face another deadline to negotiate longer-term funding.
Throughout the day, President Trump criticized Democrats for what he described as politically motivated obstruction. “They did it purely for political reasons,” he said, urging voters to remember the shutdown’s impact during upcoming elections. “When we come up to midterms and other things, don’t forget what they’ve done to our country.”
While the shutdown’s end provides immediate relief for federal workers and agencies, the short-term nature of the bill signals the potential for continued political tension as the next funding deadline approaches.