President Donald Trump has signed a bill reopening the U.S. government, officially ending the longest federal shutdown in the nation’s history.
The signing came late Wednesday, just hours after the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan funding deal by 222 votes to 209.
The agreement, reached between Republicans and centrist Senate Democrats, restores operations and funding for key agencies through January 2026.
The bill reverses widespread layoffs and restarts salaries for thousands of federal employees. It also resumes essential public services, including food and nutrition programs that millions of Americans depend on.
Trump hailed the move as a political win, calling the 43-day standoff “a victory against extortion.”
Speaking from the Oval Office, he said Democrats “tried to extort” his administration.
“They didn’t want to do it the easy way. They had to do it the hard way, and they look very bad,” he added.
The Oval Office signing capped a tense four-day rush to pass the measure. Eight Senate Democrats broke ranks to side with Republicans amid fears that the prolonged shutdown could cripple the U.S. economy.
The deal includes a promise for a Senate vote in December on expiring Obamacare subsidies, a key Democratic demand during negotiations.
However, analysts warn that the vote may fail, potentially driving up health care premiums and fueling new political fights.
Democratic leaders criticized the compromise. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said, “This fight is not over. Tens of millions of Americans could lose access to affordable healthcare.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson managed to unite most Republicans behind the bill, though controversy erupted over a Senate amendment allowing lawmakers to sue the Justice Department for past investigations.
Some Republicans, including Rep. Chip Roy, called it “self-dealing” since successful lawsuits could pay senators up to $500,000 each.
Johnson later admitted he was unaware of the amendment until after the Senate vote, calling it “a bad look” but promising to fix it later.
The end of the shutdown gives Congress just four weeks to address pending issues before the year’s end, including the farm bill, energy tax credits, and the future of Obamacare subsidies.
Trump hinted at more battles ahead, promising to “revamp” the healthcare system instead of extending current subsidies.
“Obamacare was a disaster,” he said. “We’ll work on something better.”
Meanwhile, a new controversy is brewing in Washington over the Jeffrey Epstein case files.
The House is preparing to vote next week on a bill compelling the Justice Department to release all Epstein-related documents, following pressure from both parties.
The reopened government marks a temporary political truce but sets the stage for another showdown over spending and healthcare in the coming months.
