The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed the spending package on November 12 with a 222-209 vote, following Senate approval on November 10. The bill will ensure funding for national defense, veterans’ welfare, agricultural programs, and congressional operations until mid-next year, while the rest of the government will remain funded until January 30, 2026.
President Trump signed the bill into law at 10:25 p.m. Eastern Time on November 12, officially ending the shutdown.
“Our country is in a better place than ever before. We had to go through this short disaster because Democrats mistakenly thought they would gain politically. I am deeply honored to sign this bill so that our nation can get back to work,” President Trump said in the Oval Office.
The deadlock persisted as Democrats sought to extend a tax subsidy expiring at the end of this year to reduce health insurance costs under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). They refused to support the short-term spending bill unless this provision was included. However, Republicans argued that this was a separate policy issue to be discussed at another time.
Eventually, Republicans prevailed, but only after the prolonged shutdown caused growing damage across the United States. “We told you 43 days ago, from bitter experience, that shutting down the government doesn’t help anyone,” said Tom Cole, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and a Republican.
House Speaker Mike Johnson blamed Democrats for the stalemate, saying in a fiery speech before the vote: “They knew this would cause pain, and they did it anyway. This whole process was pointless, wrong, and cruel.”
Meanwhile, Democratic leaders said that even though their healthcare demands were not met, they succeeded in making the issue a central political topic and setting the stage for an advantage in the 2026 midterm elections.
“We will not give up,” said Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic Minority Leader, on MSNBC.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on November 12 found that 50% of Americans blamed Republicans for the shutdown, while 47% blamed Democrats. The 43-day budget disruption caused widespread federal operations to stall. Government employees went without pay, travelers were stranded at airports due to flight delays and cancellations, and many families lined up at food charity centers.
With the government reopening, about 670,000 federal employees who were furloughed will return to work. Those who worked without pay — including more than 60,000 air traffic controllers and airport security officers — will receive back pay. The bipartisan agreement also restores the positions of federal employees who were laid off during the shutdown.