Trump signs stopgap bill, ending government shutdown
BREAKING: Trump signs funding bill, ending shutdown
President Donald Trump has now signed a bill ending a record 43-day government shutdown. The shutdown originally stemmed from a clash over healthcare funding between Democrats and Republicans. The legislation provides Fiscal Year 2025 funding to keep the government open through Jan. 30, 2026.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump signed a stopgap bill on Wednesday evening that ended the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
Trump’s signature draws to a close the second government shutdown he’s overseen in the White House, one that magnified the partisan divisions in Washington as his administration took unprecedented unilateral actions — including canceling projects and trying to fire federal workers -- to pressure Democrats into relenting on their demands.
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FILE-The United States Capitol building is seen in Washington D.C., United States, on November 11, 2025. (Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Here's a look back at what happened:
Trump signs stopgap bill
10:28 p.m. ET: President Donald Trump signed the stopgap bill that ended the longest government shutdown in U.S. history on Wednesday evening.
The signing ceremony came just hours after the House passed the measure on a mostly party-line vote of 222-209. The Senate had already passed the measure Monday.
House passes bill to end government shutdown
8:30 p.m. ET: The House passed a bill Wednesday to end the nation's longest government shutdown, sending the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature after a historic 43-day funding lapse that saw federal workers go without multiple paychecks, travelers stranded at airports and people lining up at food banks to get a meal for their families.
House lawmakers made their long-awaited return to the nation's capital this week after nearly eight weeks away, with Republicans using their slight majority to get the bill over the finish line by a vote of 222-209. The Senate has already passed the measure. Trump has called the bill a "very big victory."
Republicans used their slight majority to get the bill over the finish line by a vote of 222-209.
The historic 43-day funding lapse saw federal workers go without multiple paychecks, travelers stranded at airports and people lining up at food banks to get a meal for their families.
Democrats wanted to extend an enhanced tax credit expiring at the end of the year that lowers the cost of health coverage obtained through Affordable Care Act marketplaces. They refused to go along with a short-term spending bill that did not include that priority. But Republicans said that was a separate policy fight to be held at another time. They eventually prevailed, but only after the shutdown took an increasing toll on the country.
"We told you 43 days ago from bitter experience that government shutdowns don’t work," said Rep. Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. "They never achieve the objective that you announce. And guess what? You haven’t achieved that objective yet, and you’re not going to."
Democrats discuss chances of another shutdown, if health care is not addressed
3 p.m. ET: The Associated Press reported that House Democrats voting on a bill to end the government shutdown raised the possibility that it may happen again when the legislation's funding runs out again in January, if lawmakers aren’t able to get some agreement on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire at the end of 2025.
Republican congresswoman says she’ll support deal to end shutdown after voting ‘no’ in September
11:45 a.m. ET: Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz said Wednesday that she will vote for a deal to reopen the government. Spartz was one of only two Republicans to vote against the original resolution in September to prevent a shutdown, the Associated Press reported.
Spartz said she’d support the Senate deal, which includes three full-year spending bills and keeps the rest of the government open until late January.
House Speaker says he’s "optimistic" about House shutdown vote
11:15 a.m. ET: On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters "we are very optimistic about the vote tally tonight."
"We think this is going to happen and we’re sorry it took this long," Johnson added.
The Associated Press reported that Johnson sent House legislators on a break for nearly two months during a Senate impasse over the government shutdown. Johnson called them back after a small group of Democrats broke with their colleagues and voted with Republicans to end it.
Democrats lack voting leverage on health care
11 a.m. ET: The Associated Press reported that a majority of House Democrats are expected to vote against the bill to end the government shutdown because it does not include an extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits that expire at the end of 2025 and make coverage more affordable.
However, since enough Senate Democrats went along to enable the legislation to avoid a 60-vote filibuster, the AP noted that Republicans can now use their slim majorities to continue ignoring attempts to negotiate. In a possible preview, the Senate voted 47-53 along party lines on Monday not to extend the subsidies for a year.
Many Democrats question provisions in Senate passage of the bill to reopen the government
10:30 a.m. ET: Democrats are questioning language in the Senate legislation passed to end the government shutdown that would give senators the chance to sue when a federal agency or employee searches their electronic records without informing them.
The Associated Press reported that the language in the bill apparently would help Republican legislators pursue damages if their phone records were examined by the FBI as part of an investigation into President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.
House eyes evening vote to reopen the government
9:30 a.m. ET: House members are traveling back to Washington, D.C. after almost eight weeks out of session to vote on a bill to end the government shutdown.
The House gavels into session at noon, but a final vote on government funding isn’t expected until around 7 p.m., the Associated Press reported.
RELATED: Senate passes legislation to end government shutdown, bill heads to the House
If the legislation is approved, it will be sent to President Donald Trump's desk for his signature. Democrats are expected to oppose the bill because it doesn't have an extension of tax credits for health insurance offered under the Affordable Care Act.
This government shutdown has impacted the economy significantly, with over a million federal workers not receiving pay since Oct. 1. At airports nationwide, thousands of flights have been canceled, while millions of food aid recipients have seen their SNAP benefits disrupted.
Earlier this week, lawmakers agreed on a stopgap bill that will reopen the government after a Monday evening vote.
House Speaker Mike Johnson urged lawmakers to start returning to Washington, D.C. "right now" given shutdown-related travel delays.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by previous LIVENOW from FOX reporting and FOX News. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.