Trump Signs Bill to End Record 43-Day U.S. Government Shutdown, Restores Federal Operations
Story: written by Zara November 13,2025
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a funding bill officially ending the longest government shutdown in American history, which lasted 43 days and disrupted essential services nationwide.
The decision came just hours after the House of Representatives voted 222 to 209 to approve the spending package, following earlier passage in the Senate. The bill restores federal operations, reopens key departments, and ensures back pay for hundreds of thousands of furloughed government workers.
During a signing ceremony in the Oval Office, Trump stated,
“We can never let this happen again. This is no way to run a country.”
The temporary agreement extends government funding through January 30, reopening critical agencies that had been paralyzed, including air-traffic control systems and food aid programs.
Republican lawmakers largely backed the bill, while Democrats expressed disappointment over the exclusion of certain provisions, such as extended health insurance subsidies.
Representative David Schweikert of Arizona humorously compared the standoff to a sitcom, saying,
“I feel like I just lived a Seinfeld episode — 40 days and I still don’t know what the plot was.”
Economists estimate that the shutdown trimmed over 0.1% of U.S. GDP each week, though much of the lost economic activity is expected to rebound in the coming months. The reopening will also restore the flow of vital government data on employment and inflation, which had been delayed, leaving investors and policymakers uncertain.
The funding measure additionally includes a privacy protection clause that restricts government access to lawmakers’ communication data and allows affected officials to pursue legal damages related to the January 6 Capitol investigation.
The end of the shutdown brings significant relief ahead of the Thanksgiving travel period, easing strain on transportation systems and federal workers after weeks of tension and political gridlock.
