The U.S. government has reopened after a record 43-day shutdown, but unresolved issues loom large. Lawmakers must address expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies and complete spending bills by late January to avoid another crisis. Bipartisan tensions persist as Republicans demand reforms and Democrats push for extensions.
The federal government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history at 43 days, ended this week when Congress passed a stopgap spending bill signed by President Trump. The measure funds operations until January 30, 2026, with full funding extended through September 2026 for key programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Congress itself. It also addresses back pay and reversals of firings for over 3 million federal workers affected by the closure, while allocating funds for enhanced security for lawmakers, judges, and executive officials following recent threats.
At the heart of the shutdown was the fight over expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, which benefit about 20 million Americans and are set to lapse at year's end. Without extension, premiums could more than double for many. Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, refused to fund the government without securing these subsidies, elevating health care affordability as a key issue ahead of midterms. However, eight moderate senators, including independents caucusing with Democrats like Maine's Angus King, crossed the aisle to end the impasse, citing the suffering inflicted on federal workers and SNAP recipients.
Senate Republicans have promised a vote on health care by mid-December, with informal bipartisan talks proposing a one-year extension paired with reforms such as income caps on eligibility and measures against waste, fraud, and abuse. New Hampshire Democrat Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, involved in negotiations, supported some changes: "For example, a cap on income and who can benefit from the premium tax credits. I mean, that's legitimate."
In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson faces internal divisions. Swing-district Republicans urge an extension, but conservatives oppose bolstering the ACA. Johnson blamed Democrats for rising costs and insisted on reforms: "The Republicans would demand a lot of reforms before anything like that was ever possible. And we have to go through that deliberative process." A vote remains uncertain, potentially leaving Republicans accountable for higher premiums.
Another pressing matter is a House vote this week on releasing Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein. A discharge petition now holds a majority, including new Arizona Democrat Rep. Adelita Grijalva, and the bill is expected to pass easily, though Senate action is doubtful. The shutdown exposed Democratic rifts, as seen in Maine where Sen. King drew protests for his vote, while Rep. Chellie Pingree decried it as a "capitulation."
With another funding deadline approaching, Congress's dysfunction raises shutdown risks, but Democrats may gain politically by highlighting health care and affordability.