Government Shutdown Ends After 43 Days, Longest in US History

The House and Senate have now both passed deals to reopen the government after 43 days, ending the longest government shutdown in US history. 

The Details: On Wednesday night, the House voted 222-209 to pass a spending package that will reopen the government and restore federal funding. The package includes three appropriation bills, the reversal of over 4,000 federal layoffs during the shutdown, and funding for several key agencies through the rest of the fiscal year, with the rest of the government funded through Jan. 30th. It will also appropriate funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through Sep. 2026, however, it didn't extend expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, a point of contention for many Democrats. Two Republicans opposed the bill over concerns about deficit spending, while six Democrats supported it. The bill is now headed for President Trump's desk. 

For Context: The shutdown began on Oct. 1, triggered by Congress’s failure to pass a new budget as Democrats and Republicans clashed over the ACA and expiring health care tax credits. On Sunday, the Senate advanced a proposal, which promised a vote the second week in December on ACA tax credits and guarantees backpay for furloughed government workers. The shutdown has caused chaos at the nation's airports and has left tens of thousands of workers furloughed. The last shutdown, which lasted 35 days from 2018 to 2019—a record at the time—stemmed from a funding dispute over Trump’s proposed border wall.

How the Media Covered It: Fox News (Right bias) highlighted the cheers from Republicans when the bill was passed and the quiet exit of the majority of Democrats from the chamber. It also pointed out that the Democrats received little in return for ending the shutdown, with no solid commitment to extend the healthcare subsidies. The Hill (Center) focused on the political implications of the bill and the tension between parties. It noted the internal battle among Democrats and their criticism of Republican leaders over SNAP benefits, and mentioned Republicans’ defense that the Trump admin was forced to make “unpleasant decisions” due to resource scarcity. NBC News (Lean Left) emphasized the lasting effects of the shutdown on the travel industry and government programs as they catch up from the shutdown. It featured quotes from IRS workers and travelers who were upset over the shutdown and political partisanship.

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