U.S. Ends Record-Breaking Government Shutdown

(MENAFN) The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a stopgap funding bill extending government operations through January 30, 2026, marking a major step toward ending the longest shutdown in American history.

As reported by NPR, the measure cleared the chamber in a 222–209 vote. Six Democrats sided with Republicans—who maintain a narrow majority—while two GOP lawmakers opposed the bill. President Donald Trump signed the legislation into law Wednesday evening.

The shutdown, which began October 1, stemmed from a standoff over Affordable Care Act health tax credits that Democrats sought to extend into the next fiscal year.

After weeks of partisan gridlock that saw federal employee layoffs and nationwide flight cancellations, eight Senate Democrats crossed party lines on Monday to support a Republican-led effort to reopen the government.

The move drew swift backlash from party leaders. Many Democrats denounced their colleagues for cooperating with what they called “MAGA extremists” in both chambers. “We saw capitulation and a betrayal of working Americans. The American people need more from their leaders,” California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X.

Those Democrats who broke ranks defended their decision, citing the shutdown’s economic toll. “Staying in shutdown mode was not getting us anywhere,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen.

Before the House vote, Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez echoed that sentiment, arguing that “the fight to stop runaway health insurance premiums won’t be won by holding hungry Americans hostage.”

Signing the bill into law, Trump declared victory over Democrats after more than 40 days of disruption, saying the standoff had made them “look very bad.”

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