Congress passed a stopgap funding package on November 12, 2025, ending the longest U.S. government shutdown on record after 43 days. President Donald Trump signed the measure late Wednesday, reopening federal agencies. The plan funds most government operations through January 30, 2026, while leaving disputes over expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies unresolved.
The shutdown began on October 1, 2025, amid a standoff over whether to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that are set to expire at the end of the year. Democrats pushed to include the extension in a funding bill; Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, opposed addressing the subsidies in the stopgap. Mounting disruptions — notably in air travel as unpaid air traffic controllers increasingly called out — helped force a deal. (pbs.org)
The House approved the continuing resolution on November 12 by a 222–209 vote, following Senate action earlier in the week. Trump signed the legislation within hours Wednesday night. The package maintains most agency funding through January 30, 2026, and enacts full‑year appropriations for Agriculture–FDA, Military Construction–VA, and the Legislative Branch. (time.com)
The measure restores pay to federal workers and reverses shutdown‑era layoffs, directing agencies to rescind reduction‑in‑force notices and make employees whole. Back pay is required under the 2019 Government Employee Fair Treatment Act and officials say payments will be accelerated under the new law. (cbsnews.com)
Food aid will resume after a lapse. The full‑year Agriculture–FDA bill provides mandatory funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through September 2026 — serving roughly 42 million people — and reimburses contingency reserves tapped during the shutdown. With the government reopened, USDA officials said most states would begin issuing November benefits within about 24 hours, following court fights over the lapse. (naco.org)
Inside the House, tensions flared over the extended recess. “The House did its job,” Johnson said earlier in the shutdown, defending the chamber’s time away. At a Rules Committee meeting this week, Rep. Jim McGovern, D‑Mass., quipped, “Long time, no see. I hardly recognize you guys,” while Rep. Virginia Foxx, R‑N.C., shot back, “I worked every day.” (vpm.org)
The bill also tightens rules on hemp‑derived cannabinoids. It maintains the 2018 Farm Bill’s 0.3% delta‑9 THC definition of hemp but adds a cap of 0.4 milligrams total THC per container for ingestible products and bans synthesized or intoxicating hemp compounds such as delta‑8. Supporters including Sen. Mitch McConnell, R‑Ky., said the change will keep “dangerous products out of the hands of children,” while Sen. Rand Paul, R‑Ky., condemned it as “the most thoughtless, ignorant proposal,” arguing it would effectively outlaw most current products. Kentucky CBD entrepreneur Jim Higdon warned the cap would sweep up even non‑intoxicating CBD items. (washingtonpost.com)
Air travel will take time to normalize. The Transportation Department froze planned schedule cuts at the 40 busiest airports at 6%, citing fewer controller absences as pay resumes. Officials also said controllers would receive roughly 70% of back pay within 48 hours of reopening, with the balance to follow shortly thereafter. Airlines expect lingering disruptions but improving conditions heading into the Thanksgiving period. (transportation.gov)
Parks and paperwork will lag. The National Parks Conservation Association said returning staff face weeks to months of cleanup and assessment after 43 days of limited operations. At the IRS, the national taxpayer advocate has warned of risks to the 2026 filing season due to staffing cuts and shutdown‑era backlogs, and economists note that key official indicators including October jobs and inflation data may never be published because they weren’t collected during the closure. (nationalparkstraveler.org)
Health‑care negotiations remain unsettled. The deal did not extend the enhanced ACA subsidies; Senate leaders instead pledged a December vote, with no parallel commitment in the House. In an NPR interview, Jonathan Cohn of The Bulwark said pressure from constituents in Republican‑leaning areas could push some GOP lawmakers toward talks, but proposals to trade subsidy extensions for abortion restrictions are “a nonstarter” for Democrats. Another funding deadline arrives January 30. (pbs.org)