President Trump Signs Bill Ending Longest Government Shutdown in U.S. History

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history is officially over. President Trump signed a funding bill overnight to fully reopen the federal government after 43 days of closure — a standoff that left millions of Americans without paychecks and vital services in limbo.

The bill passed the House in a 222–209 vote, with six Democrats joining Republicans to approve the measure. The legislation funds the federal government through the end of January, but deeper divisions remain over key issues like health care and future budget negotiations.

In a statement following the signing, President Trump blamed Democrats for the stalemate, saying, “The Democrats tried to extort our country.” He added that the shutdown was a reminder of the political brinkmanship dividing Washington.

Most Democrats voted against the bill, arguing it ignored the looming expiration of Affordable Care Act tax credits that help lower health care costs. “Either Republicans extend the ACA tax credits this year, or the American people will throw them out next year,” one Democrat warned on the House floor.

The shutdown also exposed rifts within the Democratic Party, with progressive lawmakers like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticizing Senate Democrats for compromising with Republicans without addressing health care reforms. “The lesson they’re learning is that Democrats are weak,” Ocasio-Cortez said.

Republicans, meanwhile, say they’re ready to move forward and find bipartisan solutions to long-term funding challenges. “We have to find a solution,” one GOP leader said. “I hope we can do it in a bipartisan fashion.”

While the new funding bill provides some relief, it only guarantees short-term stability. Large portions of the federal government — including the Pentagon, Homeland Security, and the Department of Education — are funded only through January, meaning another shutdown could occur early next year if Congress fails to reach a long-term agreement.

Locally, Representative Raul Ruiz of California’s 25th District voted against the funding bill, citing concerns over health care provisions, while Representative Ken Calvert of the 41st District voted in favor. Calvert released a statement urging Democrats to “learn a valuable lesson from the shameful political charade that harmed our country.”

With the government back open, attention now shifts to how lawmakers will handle the next funding deadline — and whether they can prevent another costly shutdown in 2026.

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