Record US Shutdown Ends After 43 Days as Political Fallout Begins
Congress is set to end the longest government shutdown in US history, a 43-day standoff that left hundreds of thousands of federal workers unpaid while paralyzing Washington operations.
Key Developments
- Funding package expected to pass House after Senate approval
- Approximately 670,000 furloughed workers to return with back pay
- Air travel disruptions to gradually normalize nationwide
- Shutdown caused estimated $14 billion in economic damage
Funding Deal Details
The agreement funds military construction, veterans’ affairs, agriculture departments and Congress through next fall, while other agencies receive funding until January end. The deal also reinstates federal workers terminated during the shutdown.
House Speaker Mike Johnson declared: “We believe the long national nightmare will be over tonight. It was completely and utterly foolish and pointless in the end, as we said all along,” while blaming Democrats for the prolonged standoff.
Democratic Division
Despite public polling favoring Democrats during the shutdown, the party faces internal turmoil over the compromise. Eight moderate Senate Democrats broke ranks to negotiate a deal that offers only a Senate vote on healthcare subsidies without House guarantees.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries defended the strategy: “Over the last several weeks, we have elevated successfully the issue of the Republican health care crisis, and we’re not backing away from it.”
Progressive Backlash
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer faces criticism for failing to maintain party unity, with some House Democrats demanding his removal. High-profile potential 2028 presidential contenders joined the criticism, with California Governor Gavin Newsom calling the deal “pathetic” and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker dismissing it as an “empty promise.”
The political fallout continues as both parties assess the damage from the record-breaking shutdown that tested Washington’s governance capabilities.
