WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill Wednesday night, bringing an end to a record-breaking 43-day government shutdown that caused serious financial stress for federal employees who were left without pay, stranded countless travelers at airports, and created long lines at some food banks.
Trump’s signature marks the conclusion of the second government shutdown overseen by his administration, a period that highlighted deep partisan divisions in Washington. During the shutdown, his administration took unprecedented unilateral actions — including canceling projects and attempting to fire federal employees — in an effort to pressure Democrats into conceding to his demands.
The signing ceremony occurred just hours after the House of Representatives passed the bill in a mostly party-line vote of 222-209. The Senate had already approved the measure on Monday.
Democrats had pushed to extend an enhanced tax credit set to expire at the end of the year, which helps make health insurance purchased through Affordable Care Act marketplaces more affordable. They refused to support a short-term spending bill that did not include this priority. Republicans, on the other hand, argued that this issue should be addressed separately at a later time.
“We told you 43 days ago, from bitter experience, that government shutdowns don’t work,” said Rep. Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. “They never achieve the objectives you announce. And guess what? You haven’t achieved them yet, and you won’t.”
The frustration and pressure caused by the shutdown were evident during debates over the spending measure on the House floor.
Republicans accused Democrats of trying to leverage the hardships caused by the shutdown to win a policy battle.
“They knew it would cause pain, and they did it anyway,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Democrats countered that Republicans had rushed earlier this year to pass tax breaks that largely benefit the wealthy. But the bill before the House on Wednesday, they argued, “leaves families hanging without any guarantee that there will ever be a vote to extend tax credits to help ordinary people pay for healthcare,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries added that Democrats would continue to fight for the subsidy extension, even if the current vote did not go their way.
“This fight is not over,” Jeffries said. “We are just getting started.”
The House had not been in legislative session since September 19, when it passed a short-term measure to keep the government open at the start of the new fiscal year in October. Johnson sent lawmakers home after that vote, placing the responsibility on the Senate, saying House Republicans had already done their part.
What’s in the bill to end the shutdown
The legislation is the result of a compromise reached by eight senators who broke ranks with Democrats, concluding that Republicans would not agree to use government funding to extend the health care tax credits.
The compromise funds three annual spending bills and extends funding for the rest of the government through January 30. Republicans have promised a vote by mid-December to consider extending health care subsidies, though success is not guaranteed.
The bill also reverses the Trump administration’s attempted firings of federal workers during the shutdown, protects federal employees from additional layoffs through January, and ensures they will receive back pay once the shutdown ends. Funding for the Agriculture Department ensures that key food assistance programs will continue without interruption for the remainder of the fiscal year.
The package includes $203.5 million to enhance security for lawmakers and an additional $28 million for the security of Supreme Court justices.
Democrats criticized a provision that would allow senators to sue federal agencies or employees for searching their electronic records without notification, allowing up to $500,000 in damages per violation. The measure appears aimed at helping Republican senators pursue damages if their phone records were examined by the FBI in investigations related to Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. The provision also drew criticism from some Republicans.
Speaker Johnson said he was “very angry” about the last-minute addition and promised a vote on the matter as early as next week.
The most contentious issue remains the fate of the expiring enhanced tax credit, which makes health insurance more affordable through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. Without it, premiums could more than double for millions of Americans, and over 2 million people could lose coverage entirely next year, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Health care debate ahead
It remains unclear whether the parties will find common ground on health care before the Senate vote in December. Johnson has said he will not commit to bringing the issue to the Senate floor.
Some Republicans have indicated they may be open to extending the COVID-era tax credits but want to introduce income limits and ensure funds go to individuals rather than directly to insurance companies. Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, expressed support for extending the subsidies with modifications, while some Democrats have indicated a willingness to negotiate on certain changes.
House Democrats remain skeptical about any breakthrough in the Senate. Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, stated that Republicans have sought to repeal the health care law for the past 15 years, and that effort remains their ultimate goal.