The longest government shutdown in U.S. history has come to an end after 42 days. On Wednesday night, the House of Representatives approved a short-term funding bill to reopen the government, sending it to President Donald Trump for final approval. The signing ceremony is scheduled for 9:45 p.m. (U.S. time) in the Oval Office.
The shutdown, which began on October 1, affected millions of federal workers and disrupted key public services. It started after Senate Democrats rejected a spending bill that excluded the renewal of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, which help nearly 20 million Americans lower their health insurance costs.
After multiple failed voting rounds, a breakthrough came when the Republican-majority Senate reached a compromise with eight Democratic senators. The deal allows Democrats to vote on their health subsidy bill in December. Following this agreement, the House passed the funding bill to restore government operations.
The new legislation reinstates salaries for federal employees, reverses layoffs, and ensures continued funding for the SNAP food assistance program, which supports over 42 million Americans. It also introduces a bipartisan budget process to promote cross-party decision-making and limits the White House’s use of short-term Continuing Resolutions.
Democratic Representative Rosa DeLauro cautioned that if Obamacare tax credits are not reinstated, millions could face soaring premiums and potential loss of coverage. Republican leader Steve Scalise, however, blamed Democrats for extending the shutdown, accusing them of “holding the country hostage for 42 days.”
Historically, U.S. government shutdowns have pushed investors toward gold as a safe-haven asset. The 2025 shutdown has followed the same pattern, with gold prices rising amid concerns over political instability and a weakening dollar.