Starting over a month ago on Oct. 1, 2025, the federal government shutdown finally ended on Nov. 12, making it the longest shutdown in history at a mark of 43 days.
This shutdown has been one of increased rhetoric and passing of blame, with federal websites blaming Democrats for funding bills not passing. Democrats argued that the Republican majority across both chambers and the presidency should have been able to get a bill through.
After being passed in the Senate, the bill was passed in the House with a majority of 222 to 209.
It will extend funding to some programs until next year, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which had been delayed and cut this month as a result of the shutdown.
While food assistance will be rolled out soon, delays are still to be expected.
Funding for the federal government will continue at the same levels as the previous year up until January.
The initial issue that had caused Democrats to utilize the filibuster, extensions on Affordable Care Act subsidies for low-income Americans, is not in the bill, causing contention within the Democratic party in Congress.
Nevertheless, a vote has been agreed to be held regarding the subsidies in December.
The funding cuts forced over 600,000 federal employees to be furloughed. On Wednesday, Nov. 13, they can finally return to work.
Thousands of flights were cancelled or delayed in the midst of the shutdown due to air traffic controllers being federal employees.
Flights should be returning to normal within the next week of the end of the shutdown.
Key economic data from the month of October was not released, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying that the Bureau of Labor Statistics was not able to complete the usual surveys, and that data from the past month would be a blind spot for policymakers and the Federal Reserve.
Between $7 billion and $14 billion is estimated to have been lost in economic productivity.
While results will not be immediate, the country is slowly headed on its path back to a running government.
