Washington [US]— US President Donald Trump has signed into law a funding package to reopen the federal government, officially ending the nation’s longest-ever shutdown, which stretched to a record 43 days.
Speaking from the Oval Office during the signing ceremony on Wednesday (local time), President Trump accused congressional Democrats of “extorting American taxpayers” and holding the country hostage over political demands. “For the past 43 days, Democrats in Congress shut down the government of the United States in an attempt to extort American taxpayers for hundreds of billions of dollars for illegal aliens. Today, we’re sending a clear message that we will never give in to extortion,” he declared.
The shutdown came to an end after weeks of political stalemate between the White House and Democrats over an Obamacare-related program. The US Senate approved the funding measure earlier this week, followed by a 222–209 vote in the House of Representatives, with nearly all Republicans and a few Democrats backing the bill.
Trump acknowledged that the shutdown had “inflicted massive harm” on the country, noting that over 20,000 flights were canceled or delayed and nearly one million federal employees went unpaid. Food stamp benefits were also cut off for millions of low-income Americans during the closure.
The measure, officially known as the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5371, provides temporary funding for most government operations through January 30, 2026, while fully funding key sectors such as agriculture, rural development, the Food and Drug Administration, military construction, veterans’ affairs, and the Legislative Branch, according to the Office of Management and Budget.
“With my signature, the federal government will now resume normal operations,” Trump said, emphasizing his administration’s focus on reducing living costs, restoring public safety, and “making America affordable again for all Americans.”
The White House described the package as a “fiscally responsible product” that supports veterans, farmers, and rural communities without including what it called “partisan, poison pill provisions” sought by Democrats.
During the ceremony, Trump also urged lawmakers to end the use of the Senate filibuster — a longstanding procedural tool allowing indefinite debate to block votes — calling it an obstacle to “effective governance.”
The signing marks the formal end of one of the most divisive budget impasses in US history, allowing federal agencies to resume full operations and ensuring back pay for employees who worked without wages during the 43-day shutdown.
