President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a bill ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, just hours after the House of Representatives voted to restore food assistance, pay hundreds of thousands of federal workers, and revive the air-traffic control system.
The Republican-controlled House passed the funding package 222–209, with Trump’s backing helping to unify his party despite Democratic opposition.
The deal, already cleared by the Senate, will allow federal employees idled by the 43-day shutdown to return to work as early as Thursday, though a full restoration of government services may take longer.
“This is no way to run a country,” Trump said during a late-night Oval Office signing ceremony, vowing to prevent a repeat of the crisis. The funding bill extends government spending through January 30, adding to America’s $38 trillion national debt.
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Some lawmakers expressed frustration over the political gridlock. “We just spent 40 days, and I still don’t know what the plotline was,” said Republican Representative David Schweikert of Arizona. “What’s happened now when rage is policy?”
The end of the shutdown offers relief to critical sectors, with air travel services expected to stabilize ahead of Thanksgiving and food aid resuming for millions of families. Economic data releases halted during the shutdown will also resume, though some reports, such as the October employment and CPI figures, may never be published.
Economists estimate the six-week shutdown shaved more than a tenth of a percentage point off U.S. GDP, though most losses are expected to be recovered in the coming months.
Meanwhile, Democrats failed to secure an immediate extension of health insurance subsidies but expect another Senate vote on the issue in December. Outgoing Representative Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey urged her colleagues not to bow to the Trump administration, saying, “Do not let this body become a ceremonial red stamp for an administration that takes food away from children and rips away healthcare.”
An Ipsos poll showed no clear political victor from the standoff: 50% of Americans blamed Republicans, while 47% blamed Democrats.
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Beyond funding matters, the House now faces renewed controversy over calls to release all unclassified Jeffrey Epstein records. The bill also includes provisions allowing eight Republican senators to seek damages over alleged privacy violations linked to the January 6 investigation.
The end of the shutdown may restore stability for now but Washington remains deeply divided, with new battles already looming on the horizon.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
