The longest US government shutdown in history ends after 43 days, with 670,000 furloughed workers returning and political fallout beginning
WASHINGTON: Congress moved to end the longest government shutdown in US history on Wednesday after a 43-day political standoff that left hundreds of thousands of federal workers unpaid.
The House of Representatives was expected to approve a Senate-passed funding package that would reopen federal agencies, ending the paralysis that gripped Washington.
House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters the shutdown was “completely and utterly foolish and pointless in the end” while blaming Democrats for the extended standoff.
The funding package covers military construction, veterans’ affairs, agriculture and congressional operations through next fall, with other government agencies funded through January.
Approximately 670,000 furloughed civil servants will return to work, while a similar number who worked without pay will receive back wages.
The agreement also reinstates federal workers fired during the shutdown and aims to normalise air travel disrupted by absent air traffic controllers and security staff.
During a Veterans Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery, former President Donald Trump celebrated the shutdown’s conclusion despite breaking from presidential tradition.
“We’re opening up our country — it should have never been closed,” Trump said while using the ceremonial event for political commentary.
Trump’s Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the president hoped to sign the bill ending the shutdown later Wednesday evening.
Johnson’s Republicans faced potential rebellion from one or two party members but expected the deal to pass largely along party lines.
Democratic leadership urged members to vote against the package, furious over what they perceived as Senate colleagues capitulating to Republican demands.
Although polling showed public opinion favoured Democrats during the standoff, Republicans appeared to gain more from the resolution.
Democrats had held firm for over five weeks demanding extension of pandemic-era health insurance tax credits affecting millions of Americans.
Recent election victories in multiple states had emboldened Democrats before eight moderate Senate Democrats broke ranks to cut a deal with Republicans.
The compromise offers a Senate vote on health care subsidies but provides no House floor time or guarantee of legislative action.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told MSNBC that Democrats successfully elevated the Republican health care crisis issue despite the compromise.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer faces backlash from progressives for failing to maintain party unity, with some House Democrats calling for his resignation.
Prominent Democratic figures considering 2028 presidential bids condemned the agreement as California Governor Gavin Newsom called it “pathetic.”
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker described the deal as an “empty promise” while former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg labelled it a “bad deal.”
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the shutdown caused $14 billion in lost economic growth, though the full financial impact remains undetermined. – AFP
