“Congratulations to you, Senate Republican Leader John Thune, and everyone involved. A big win,” President Trump said to House Speaker Mike Johnson after spotting him in the audience during a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on November 11.
Mr. Trump was referring to the Senate’s passage of the government funding bill, which received support from 52 Republican senators and eight Democrats. The bill has now been sent to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and is expected to be signed into law by President Trump soon, allowing the U.S. government to reopen on November 14.
“We’re about to reopen the country. The government should never have been shut down,” Mr. Trump added. According to U.S. media, the president’s remarks once again reflected his departure from the tradition of past presidents, who typically avoided partisan political messages when addressing service members or speaking at commemorative events.
In his speech, Mr. Trump also expressed his intention to rename Veterans Day as “Victory Day” for World War I and to designate May 8 as the day to commemorate victory in World War II.
The U.S. government has entered its 42nd day of shutdown — the longest in the nation’s history.
The bill passed by the Senate restores funding for federal agencies and prevents further layoffs among federal employees ordered by the Trump administration until January 30, 2026. Mr. Trump affirmed that his administration would comply with all terms of the agreement.
The legislation also allocates funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, through September 30, 2026, preventing potential disruptions should another government shutdown occur before then.
However, the bill does not include an extension of subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), which are set to expire and currently benefit 24 million Americans — a key demand of Democrats. Many Democratic members expressed frustration, arguing that there are no guarantees either the Senate or the House will agree to renew the health insurance subsidies.
Senator John Fetterman, one of the most conservative Democrats in the Senate, defended his decision to vote for the bill. “When faced with widespread chaos, I believe we shouldn’t respond or fight back with even more chaos. We need to show that we are a party of order and reason,” he said.