Government Shutdown Ends After 43 Days

After 43 days, the government shutdown has ended. The House of Representatives voted 222-209 to pass the funding bill as amended by the Senate, which funds the government until Jan. 30, 2026, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, and the legislative branch through Fiscal Year 2026.

Also included in the bill is a reversal of the thousands of layoffs triggered by the Trump administration during the shutdown, as well as reaffirmation of back pay for the federal workers impacted by the shutdown.

This shutdown was triggered by a failure of the Senate to reach a deal to fund the government by September 30, 2025. While Democrats had hoped that the shutdown would force the administration and Republicans to the bargaining table to extend health care subsidies for millions of Americans, eight Senate Democrats (including an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats) eventually joined with Republicans to advance the funding bill.  Those senators are Senators Shaheen (NH), Hassan (NH), Cortez Masto (NV), Rosen (NV), Durbin (IL), Fetterman (PA), Kaine (VA), and King (ME).

“While the APWU is glad to see the end of a shutdown that devastated workers and families across the country, we must not lose sight of the fact that millions of Americans are about to be priced out of health care for themselves and their loved ones,” said APWU President Jonathan Smith. “Congress must pass legislation by the end of the year to address the extension of the ACA subsidies so that regular, working people can afford critical medical care and prescriptions.”