Federal Government Reopens After 43-Day Shutdown

The longest federal government shutdown in history ended after Congress agreed to a legislative package to provide FY 2026 funding for three of the twelve spending bills (the Agriculture, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, and Legislative Branch appropriations bills), and a continuing resolution (CR) until January 30 to fund the rest of the government.

The January 30 deadline gives appropriators and leadership more time to finalize the nine remaining spending bills and avoid the pressure of the December holiday break that often forces a last-minute omnibus spending package.

Over the course of a month and half, the pressure from constituents about the loss of supplemental food assistance, air travel delays, the loss of federal workers’ pay, and general opposition to the shutdown forced a group of seven Democratic Senators and one Independent to vote with Republicans on a package to open the government. However, the final language does not address the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health care subsidies that Democrats were advocating for including. In the end, Senate Democrats were promised a vote on the issue in mid-December, but the House has not promised similar consideration.

The Senate approved the Act (H. R. 5371) by a vote of 60-40 and, after being out of session for 54 days, the House passed the measure 222-209.

The shutdown began when the House passed a CR on September 19, and the Senate failed to pass it by October 1. The Senate voted and failed to pass the CR 14 times because Democrats were demanding the CR include the extension of health care insurance subsidies under the ACA, which expire at the end of December. 

For more information, please contact:
Stephanie Giesecke