Washington, 13 Nov

President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill on Wednesday night, ending the record 43-day shutdown that paralysed key services and left federal workers unpaid. The shutdown disrupted airports, strained food banks and deepened partisan divides in Washington.

Trump blamed Democrats for the deadlock and urged voters to “remember this” during next year’s midterm elections. The bill was passed by the House earlier in the day by a 222–209 vote, after the Senate cleared it on Monday.

The standoff began when Democrats refused to support a short-term funding bill that did not extend an expiring health insurance tax credit under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Republicans argued the issue should be debated separately.

Rep. Tom Cole, Republican chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said: “Government shutdowns don’t work. You haven’t achieved your objective, and you’re not going to.”

A bitter end after a long stalemate

Lawmakers on both sides voiced frustration as they debated the measure.

Republicans accused Democrats of exploiting the shutdown’s pain to win concessions, while Democrats said the GOP prioritised tax breaks for the wealthy over relief for families.

House Speaker Mike Johnson accused Democrats of “causing pain deliberately”, while Democrat Jim McGovern criticised Republicans for leaving families “twisting in the wind”.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries vowed to continue pushing for health care subsidies: “This fight is not over. We’re just getting started.”

What’s in the bill to end the shutdown

The legislation funds three annual spending bills and extends the rest of the government operations through 30 January. It also reverses layoffs of federal workers ordered during the shutdown and ensures back pay.

Funding for key food assistance programmes will continue, and $203.5 million has been allocated to boost lawmaker security, with $28 million more for Supreme Court protection.

A controversial clause allows senators to sue federal agencies if their electronic records are searched without notice — a provision that angered both parties. House Speaker Johnson said he was “very angry” about the late addition.

Health care debate ahead

The central dispute over extending ACA tax credits remains unresolved. Without renewal, premiums could more than double, and about 2 million Americans may lose coverage, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Republicans argue the subsidies are no longer needed post-pandemic, while Democrats say removing them would harm working families.

Sen. Susan Collins, Republican chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said she supported extending the credits with income caps, an idea some Democrats may consider.

Rep Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, was sceptical, saying Republicans had sought to roll back the ACA “for the past 15 years”.

Despite the bill ending the shutdown, both sides remain braced for another showdown when funding debates resume in December.