Trump Signs Spending Bill, Ending Longest U.S. Government Shutdown:

Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump has signed a federal spending bill into law, officially ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The signing came less than two hours after the House of Representatives passed the measure late Wednesday night, allowing the federal government to reopen after 43 days of partial closure. “With my signature, the federal government will now resume normal operations,” Trump said during a brief signing ceremony. “My administration and our partners in Congress will continue our work to lower the cost of living, restore public safety, grow our economy, and make America affordable again for all Americans.” The shutdown, which began on October 1, had brought most nonessential government services to a halt. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees were furloughed or working without pay, affecting sectors from national parks to transportation. Workers are expected to begin returning to their jobs as early as Thursday, though it may take days before all operations fully resume. Economists estimate the shutdown shaved more than a tenth of a percentage point off U.S. GDP every six weeks. Most of that lost output is expected to be recovered in the coming months, but the disruption hit families and businesses hard — particularly as the busy Thanksgiving travel season approaches. The reopening brings relief to air travel workers and passengers alike, with key federal agencies now able to ramp up operations before the holiday rush. The restart of food aid programs should also ease pressure on millions of American households ahead of Christmas, potentially boosting consumer spending during the festive season. Despite the breakthrough, the deal leaves one major issue unresolved: the future of health insurance subsidies for 24 million Americans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Trump administration has said it will not renew those subsidies when they expire at the end of the year, setting up another potential clash in January. The House passed the stopgap funding bill by a vote of 222–209, with six Democrats joining Republicans in support and two Republicans voting against it. The Senate approved the same package on Monday night by a vote of 60–40, funding the government through January 30. Trump, speaking after signing the bill, blamed Democrats for prolonging the shutdown. “This is no way to run a country,” he said. “We can never let this happen again.” House Speaker Mike Johnson accused Democrats of using Americans as “leverage in a political game,” saying Senate Democrats had repeatedly voted to “close the government” while Republicans pushed to reopen it. Senate Republicans ultimately agreed to hold a vote on the ACA subsidies by December to secure Democratic support, though Johnson has made no such promise in the House — raising concerns that another shutdown could occur early next year. David Smith, associate professor at the University of Sydney’s United States Studies Centre, described the deal as “just a stopgap arrangement.” He warned, “The government will likely face another shutdown in January if they can’t reach a longer-term agreement.” Among Senate Democrats who supported the compromise were Dick Durbin of Illinois, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Catherine Cortez Masto and Jackie Rosen of Nevada, Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, and Tim Kaine of Virginia. Independent Senator Angus King of Maine also voted in favor. Still, many Democrats expressed frustration. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called the deal an “empty promise,” reflecting the anger within the party’s progressive wing. Some Democrats had hoped to hold out longer, buoyed by recent election victories in New York City, New Jersey, and Virginia. For now, though, the nation’s longest-ever government shutdown has come to an end — at least temporarily.

NEWS