Government Shutdown Ends After 43 Days as Trump Signs Funding Bill
9:55 AM
The Office of Personnel Management announced that “normal operating procedures are in effect” across federal agencies in Washington, D.C., signaling the formal restart of government operations.
9:40 AM
A White House budget office memo reported that more than 1.4 million federal employees are expected to begin receiving back pay as early as Sunday, with others receiving checks next Wednesday.
8:15 AM
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian told “CBS Mornings” he expects air travel delays to ease quickly, saying he anticipates the system to be “full steam ahead” by the weekend now that air traffic control staffing has begun returning to normal.
8:00 AM
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said the White House estimates about 60,000 non-federal workers lost their jobs as a result of the shutdown’s downstream impact. He added the administration believes the shutdown cost the U.S. economy roughly $15 billion per week, or $92 billion total.
7:47 AM
The shutdown’s economic toll becomes clearer, with new federal estimates showing 42 million food aid recipients were affected, 670,000 federal employees furloughed, and 4,000 government workers laid off, according to CBS News reporting.
10:24 PM
President Donald Trump signed the government funding package in the Oval Office, formally ending the 43-day shutdown.
8:22 PM
The House passed the bill 222–209, with six Democrats voting yes and two Republicans voting no. The Senate approved the measure earlier in the week.
A Shutdown That Stretched 43 Days
The longest government shutdown in modern U.S. history came to an end Wednesday night after President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan funding measure to reopen federal agencies through Jan. 30. The shutdown, which lasted 43 days, created sweeping disruptions across the country, from delayed paychecks for government employees to stalled food assistance programs and air travel challenges.
The bill passed the Senate on Monday and the House late Wednesday in a 222 to 209 vote, with six Democrats and two Republicans breaking with their parties. The legislation includes full-year funding for three federal agencies and a short-term extension for the remainder of the government.
The shutdown began after funding lapsed on Sept. 30. While House Republicans passed a short-term measure to keep the government open, they lacked the Democratic support needed in the Senate. Democrats insisted that the funding extension include renewal of expiring health care tax credits under the Affordable Care Act.
That dispute stalled negotiations for more than six weeks as party leaders blamed each other for the stalemate. Millions of Americans faced direct consequences. According to CBS News reporting, 42 million federal food aid recipients experienced disruptions, 670,000 federal employees were furloughed, and 4,000 federal workers were laid off entirely. Economic analysts warned of more than $7 billion in potential economic damage.
A Late-Breaking Senate Agreement
Breakthrough negotiations began last weekend after bipartisan conversations that had been taking place informally for weeks gained traction. On Monday, eight Senate Democrats crossed the aisle to join Republicans in supporting a deal that ultimately became the foundation of the legislation signed by the president.
That agreement centered on a commitment from Republicans to allow a mid-December vote on the tax credit extension Democrats had demanded. While the bill did not include those tax credit provisions, the promise of a future vote gave Senate Democrats leverage they had been seeking.
The resulting compromise cleared the way for the House to act Wednesday night, setting the stage for a reopening of the federal government the following morning.
Trump Signs Funding Bill, Criticizes Democrats
President Trump signed the funding legislation Wednesday night in a televised Oval Office ceremony, sharply criticizing Democrats for their shutdown strategy.
“We're sending a clear message that we will never give in to extortion,” Trump said, accusing Democrats of attempting to “extort American taxpayers” by insisting on extending health insurance subsidies.
He thanked congressional Republicans and the eight Senate Democrats who supported the bill. But he warned the public not to forget the shutdown as the 2026 midterms approach.
Trump also reiterated interest in revisiting health care subsidies, saying he wants money currently used for tax credits to go “directly to the people of our country.” Some Republicans have suggested that funds could be redirected into health savings accounts, although no formal proposal has been drafted.
Federal Agencies Begin Reopening
Federal agencies began reopening Thursday morning as employees returned to work. According to a memo from the White House budget office, back pay for federal workers will begin processing on a staggered basis:
• Health and Human Services, Energy, Veterans Affairs, Army (civilian), and others will begin receiving payments Sunday, covering standard pay and hazard pay.
• Education, State, Interior, Transportation, EPA, NASA, SSA, and NSF employees will receive base-pay checks Monday.
• GSA and OPM workers will receive payments Saturday, Nov. 15.
• Employees of the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Homeland Security, HUD, Justice, Labor, and Treasury, along with the Small Business Administration, have projected payment dates of Nov. 19.
Both furloughed and essential employees who worked without pay will receive full back pay.
The Smithsonian Institution announced that it will reopen the National Museum of American History, the National Air and Space Museum, and the Udvar-Hazy Center on Friday, with additional museums and the National Zoo reopening in phases through Monday.
Air Travel Expected to Normalize Within Days
One of the most visible signs of shutdown disruptions occurred in the aviation sector, where staffing shortages led to delays and cancellations throughout the past week. Delta CEO Ed Bastian said he believes the system will stabilize quickly now that federal workers are returning.
“By the weekend, we're pretty much going to be full steam ahead,” Bastian told “CBS Mornings,” adding that staffing levels should normalize as federal workers receive back pay. He said the system remains “incredibly safe” and expressed no concerns about Thanksgiving travel.
What Comes Next: A Health Care Fight in December
While the shutdown has ended, the larger political conflict that fueled it remains unresolved. The Affordable Care Act tax credits at the center of Democratic demands are set to expire at the end of this year. Without congressional action, millions of Americans could see insurance premiums surge.
Senate Democrats secured a commitment for a vote on the tax credits by mid-December, but there is no guarantee the vote will succeed. Republican leaders have not indicated whether they will support an extension.
This sets up a new legislative showdown that could define Congress’s early winter agenda. With the government funded only through Jan. 30, lawmakers will face pressure to resolve the health care dispute before another funding crisis emerges.
The 2025 government shutdown is now over, but its consequences will reverberate for weeks. Federal agencies must process back pay, contractors face uncertain financial recovery, and millions of Americans who rely on federal programs experienced significant disruptions.
The deal that reopened the government may have solved the immediate crisis, but it also guarantees that Congress will soon return to a familiar battleground: the future of health insurance subsidies. Whether lawmakers can avoid another shutdown will depend on the outcome of that fight in December.
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