The U.S. government is set to resume operations on Thursday following the longest shutdown in American history, which lasted 43 days and disrupted air travel, cut off food assistance for low-income Americans, and left more than 1 million federal workers unpaid for over a month. Despite the reopening, the political divisions that triggered the shutdown remain unresolved, leaving uncertainty about the stability of government operations in the months ahead.
The funding package that ended the shutdown offers limited protections to prevent Republican President Donald Trump from withholding spending, within an administration that has repeatedly challenged Congress’ constitutional authority over federal funds. Crucially, it does not address the soon-to-expire health subsidies that initially sparked the Senate Democrats’ pushback and subsequent shutdown. The impasse revealed rifts within the Democratic Party itself, pitting its liberal base, which has urged aggressive action to curb Trump’s authority, against moderates who argue their influence is constrained while Republicans control majorities in both chambers of Congress. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has faced calls to resign, even though he voted against the deal.
Approximately 1.4 million federal employees who went without pay during the shutdown will start receiving back pay on Saturday, with all payments expected to be completed by Wednesday, according to the White House. While Trump’s administration had previously threatened to withhold some of these wages, there is no indication that any workers will be denied payment. “I’m happy to see all my coworkers again. I brought in some pastries for everybody so we can enjoy our first day back,” said federal employee Stanley Stocker upon returning to the Department of the Interior. Several thousand workers who were terminated during the shutdown will retain their jobs under the terms of the new funding deal, and agencies were instructed to revoke dismissals within five days.
Public sentiment shows that neither political party has emerged unscathed. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Wednesday indicated that 50% of Americans blamed Republicans for the shutdown, while 47% held Democrats responsible. However, the return to normalcy may be temporary, as the deal funds government operations only through January 30, leaving open the possibility of another shutdown early next year. Notably absent from the debate was the $38 trillion national debt, which Congress continues to allow to grow at an estimated rate of $1.8 trillion per year.
While Democrats secured no guarantees for the health subsidies, they did obtain a commitment from the Republican-controlled Senate to hold a vote on the issue, though passage is not assured, and there is no guarantee the House will vote. Still, Democrats argued that they had successfully highlighted the importance of the subsidies, which benefit 24 million Americans, many of whom live in Republican-led states. “The healthcare of the American people is a fight worth having, and I’m proud that Democrats held together for this long to fight this battle,” Representative Hank Johnson of Georgia told Reuters. “The American people are more aware of the high stakes.” Republicans countered that the shutdown was an unnecessary and harmful tactic. “This is just absolutely insane, insane that we’re now using government shutdowns as leverage for policy. That can never happen,” Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick told Reuters.
The government’s operational restart includes the resumption of the nation’s air travel system, which had been disrupted by high absentee rates among air traffic controllers, causing thousands of flight cancellations. Additionally, 42 million Americans dependent on SNAP benefits can now expect stability, with most states projected to receive full funding within 24 hours of the reopening, according to the Agriculture Department. The deal also temporarily halts Trump’s plan to reduce the federal workforce by 300,000 employees by the end of the year, maintaining the current 2.2 million-strong civil service at least until the end of January.
The shutdown also hindered the release of important economic data, leaving investors and the Federal Reserve without critical information needed to gauge the state of the U.S. economy. Consumer confidence was negatively affected ahead of the year-end holiday shopping season. The Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan entity, estimated that the shutdown delayed approximately $50 billion in federal spending and reduced U.S. GDP by 1.5 percentage points, noting that while the economy is expected to largely recover after the government reopens, up to $14 billion in lost activity will not be recouped.
Government Reopens but Uncertainty Remains
The U.S. government’s reopening ends the immediate disruptions caused by the 43-day shutdown, restoring pay for federal workers and resuming essential services, yet deep political divisions persist. Both parties face scrutiny from the public, and with funding secured only until late January, the potential for renewed conflict remains, leaving Americans and policymakers alike bracing for possible future gridlock.
