President Donald Trump has officially signed a short-term spending bill, ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The legislation, approved by the House (222-209) and the Senate two days prior, will reopen federal operations temporarily until January 30.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said the government would “resume normal operations” after 1.4 million federal employees were left unpaid or forced to work without compensation during the 43-day shutdown. Essential services, including food aid programs and air travel, faced major disruptions, with the Federal Aviation Administration reducing flights due to staff shortages.
The bill’s passage required extraordinary efforts from lawmakers. Wisconsin Republican Derrick Van Orden rode nearly 1,000 miles on his motorcycle to ensure his vote was counted in the House.
While Trump blamed Democrats for causing the shutdown for political reasons, some Democrats, like Senator Tim Kaine, praised the deal for supporting federal workers. However, minority leader Chuck Schumer criticized it for failing to address the nation’s healthcare issues.
The bill does not offer long-term solutions, requiring Congress to revisit government funding before the end of January. Meanwhile, Democrats welcomed newly sworn-in Arizona Representative Adelita Grijalva, who joined efforts to advance legislation demanding the release of files related to the late Jeffrey Epstein.
House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed a vote on the petition will take place next week.
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