After a record 42 days, the US Congress has voted to end the country&rsquo;s longest-ever government shutdown, restoring operations that had come to a near standstill. The House of Representatives passed the resolution by 222 to 209, following Senate approval of a temporary funding bill that will keep the government running till the end of the year.
The legislation now heads to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law. The shutdown, triggered by a standoff between Republicans and Democrats over Obamacare funding and healthcare costs, had severely affected public services, including air travel, food aid, and federal programs.
The Senate passed the bill with help from eight Democratic defectors, breaking a long political deadlock. In the House, six Democrats voted with Republicans while two Republicans opposed the measure.
Under the new law, most agencies will receive funding through December, and all government employees, including those furloughed, will be paid for the shutdown period. However, it may take several days for full operations to resume.
The prolonged standoff has deepened divisions within both parties. Republicans faced voter backlash in recent elections, while Democrats saw internal criticism for allowing the measure to pass without key healthcare concessions.
The end of the shutdown marks a temporary truce in Washington&rsquo;s partisan gridlock, but long-term budget negotiations remain unresolved.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]

After 42 days, Congress passes funding bill; Trump to sign and reopen government

US Congress Ends Longest Govt Shutdown

After 42 days, Congress passes funding bill; Trump to sign and reopen government

November 13, 2025 | 15:35 IST