It looks like the U.S. government shutdown may be coming to an end. Members of the House of Representatives headed back to Washington on Tuesday, after a 53-day break, braving the congestion at the nation’s tangled airports for a vote that could bring the longest U.S. government shutdown in history to a close.
The United States federal government entered a shutdown at 12:01 a.m. EDT on October 1, 2025, after Congress failed to pass either a full-year appropriations bill or a short-term continuing resolution before the fiscal-year deadline of Sept. 30.
The impassè reflects a partisan divide: House Republicans advocated for a “clean” funding bill, while Democrats insisted on extending health-insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and including other policy measures. Negotiations remained deadlocked for weeks, resulting in an estimated 750,000 federal employees being furloughed, though this figure may vary as agencies adjust classifications.
Non-essential operations have largely paused, while essential services—including Social Security, national defense, and veterans’ benefits—continue under contingency plans, sometimes with reduced efficiency.
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The Republican-controlled House is due to vote Wednesday afternoon on a compromise that would restore funding to government agencies and end a shutdown that started on Oct. 1 and is now in its 42nd day.
The economic and operational impacts are already visible, though many remain uncertain. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the shutdown could cost between $7 billion and $14 billion, potentially reducing fourth-quarter GDP growth by up to 2 percent, depending on how long the closure lasts.
Key economic-data releases from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Bureau of Economic Analysis have been delayed, and regulatory oversight at agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission has been disrupted. Analysts note that if the shutdown ends promptly, much of the economic damage may be temporary, but these projections are conditional and not guaranteed.
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The Republican-controlled Senate approved the deal on Monday night and House Speaker Mike Johnson has said he expects it to pass his chamber as well.
As of mid-November 2025, reports indicate that the Senate approved a funding compromise, and the House of Representatives is expected to vote on the measure, with President Donald Trump signaling he will sign it into law. While these developments suggest the shutdown may soon end, the exact timing and final terms remain uncertain, and unresolved disputes over ACA subsidies or other policy riders could still influence the outcome.
“We’re opening up our country. Should have never been closed,” Trump said at a Veterans Day event in Arlington, Virginia.
These efforts by both parties to at least give the appearance of bipartisanship may indeed mean that a resolution may be near, the situation underscores the fragility of bipartisan cooperation and the potential ripple effects of prolonged impasses on public services, regulatory oversight, and economic stability.