US President Donald Trump has signed a bill to reopen the federal government, ending a 43-day shutdown, the longest in the country’s history.
The deal passed Congress late Wednesday after weeks of political deadlock between Republicans and Democrats over health care funding.
The bill restores pay for federal employees and extends government spending through January 2026.
Trump blamed Democrats for the delay, calling the measure “an easy extension” that could have been passed sooner.
The shutdown, which began on October 1, disrupted food assistance for millions, halted key services and forced government workers, including airport staff and air traffic controllers, to work without pay.
The dispute centred on whether to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, which lower health insurance costs for millions of Americans.
The final bill did not include an extension but allowed for a Senate vote on the issue in December.
The closure, which affected nearly every federal agency, cost the US economy billions of dollars and underscored the deep political divisions in Washington as the 2026 election season approaches.
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