The United States has ended the longest government shutdown in its history — a 43-day suspension of federal operations — after President Donald Trump signed a temporary funding bill extending government financing until January 30, 2026.
On Wednesday evening, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the budget bill, paving the way for the government to resume full operations. The legislation received support from 222 lawmakers, surpassing the simple majority required for approval. The bill had already cleared the Senate earlier, the BBC’s Russian Service reported on November 12.
The approved legislation guarantees funding for all federal agencies and departments through the end of January 2026, ensuring their continued operation.
The shutdown stemmed from a prolonged standoff between Republicans and Democrats in Congress. Democrats had blocked earlier budget proposals, demanding an extension of subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), which are set to expire at the end of 2025.
The crisis impacted hundreds of thousands of federal employees. Nearly 700,000 were placed on unpaid furlough, and some received termination notices. Meanwhile, members of the National Guard, police officers, air traffic controllers, and transportation workers continued to work without pay.
The aviation sector was particularly affected, as a wave of resignations and walkouts by air traffic controllers led to the cancellation of thousands of flights nationwide. Additionally, the lack of funding caused disruptions in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which supports nearly 42 million Americans.
