Jakarta. President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill Wednesday night, ending a record 43-day shutdown that disrupted federal operations, delayed paychecks for thousands of government workers, stranded travelers at airports, and lengthened lines at food banks nationwide.

The shutdown deepened partisan divisions in Washington as Trump took unprecedented steps, including canceling projects and attempting to fire federal employees, to pressure Democrats to yield to his demands.

Blaming Democrats for the prolonged standoff, the Republican president urged voters not to reward the party in next year’s midterm elections.

“So I just want to tell the American people, you should not forget this,” Trump said. “When we come up to midterms and other things, don’t forget what they’ve done to our country.”

The bill’s signing came just hours after the House approved the measure 222–209 along mostly party lines, following the Senate’s passage on Monday.

Democrats had insisted on extending an enhanced health care tax credit set to expire at year’s end, which helps lower the cost of insurance under the Affordable Care Act. They refused to support a short-term funding bill that excluded the measure, while Republicans argued that the issue should be debated separately.

“We told you 43 days ago from bitter experience that government shutdowns don’t work,” said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., chair 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.”

Bitter End to a Lengthy Stalemate

Tensions flared as lawmakers debated the spending package on the House floor.
Republicans accused Democrats of exploiting the shutdown’s pain to gain leverage in the policy fight.

“They knew it would cause pain, and they did it anyway,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Democrats, meanwhile, blasted Republicans for prioritizing tax cuts for the wealthy earlier this year while leaving families “twisting in the wind.”

“The bill before us leaves families with zero guarantee there will ever be a vote to extend tax credits to help everyday people pay for their health care,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries vowed to continue pushing for the subsidy extension. “This fight is not over,” he said. “We’re just getting started.”

The House had not met in legislative session since Sept. 19, after passing a temporary measure to avert a shutdown at the start of the fiscal year in October. Speaker Johnson later sent lawmakers home, placing responsibility on the Senate to act.

What’s in the Bill
The funding deal emerged after eight senators broke ranks with Democrats, concluding that Republicans would not agree to extend the health care credits through the funding bill. The compromise funds three annual spending measures and extends the rest of the government’s operations through Jan. 30.

Republicans pledged to hold a vote by mid-December on the subsidy extension, though its passage remains uncertain. The bill also reinstates federal workers dismissed during the shutdown, shields them from further layoffs through January, and guarantees back pay once operations resume.

Key provisions include $203.5 million to strengthen security for lawmakers and an additional $28 million for Supreme Court justices’ protection. Funding for the Agriculture Department ensures continued food assistance benefits for low-income Americans through the rest of the fiscal year.

Democrats criticized a late addition allowing senators to sue if federal agencies search their electronic records without notice, with potential damages of up to $500,000 per violation. The measure, which some believe is aimed at aiding Republican senators who claim their phone data were accessed during investigations into Trump’s 2020 election efforts, drew bipartisan concern.

“That was dropped in at the last minute, and I did not appreciate that, nor did most of the House members,” Speaker Johnson said, promising a review vote next week.

Health Care Fight Continues
At the center of the impasse was the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credit, originally enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic to make insurance more affordable.

Without the extension, premiums are expected to more than double for millions of Americans, and more than 2 million people could lose coverage, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Republicans, led by Rep. Cole, argue the temporary credits should expire as planned: “It’s a subsidy on top of a subsidy. COVID is over. They chose the date.”

Democrats countered that the policy expanded access to affordable health care.
“All they have done is try to eliminate access to health care in our country,” said Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. “The country is catching on to them.”

Looking ahead, it remains unclear whether lawmakers can bridge their divide before the December vote. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she supports extending the credits with modifications, such as income caps — an idea some Democrats signaled openness to consider.

But Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, was skeptical: “Republicans have wanted to repeal the health care law for 15 years. That’s where they’re trying to go.”

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