The federal government shutdown, a bipartisan conflict that evolved into a tug of war over the Affordable Care Act’s Tax Credits and SNAP benefits, has officially ended as President Donald Trump signed an agreement on Nov. 13.
A government funding package was approved with a vote of 222-209 by members of the House after a 54-day recess; the Senate also passed the same exact package two days prior, according to multiple reports. Republicans were joined by six Democrats who voted yes. Two Republicans voted no, which resulted in the final vote.
Trump said that the government shutdown “hurt people so badly” and that after 43 days the federal government would “resume normal operations.”
Federal operations resumed on Thursday morning Nov. 14. The package, in detail, includes a full-year of three-bill funding for the Department of Veteran Affairs, Congressional operations, the Department of Agriculture and military construction projects.
In a statement in which Trump suggested that Democrats were solely responsible for the shutdown due to their demand of GOP leaders to agree to the extension of tax credits in order to prevent the rising cost of healthcare premiums once, he said, “ Today we’re sending a clear message that we will never give in to extortion.”
The new bill, signed as of last Wednesday night, implements another funding issue for federal agencies, funds for most federal funding agencies will expire at midnight on Jan. 30 2026. This also occurred because eight Senate Democrats felt that Republicans would not come to an agreement with them. Many critics are saying that those eight Democrats caved in under pressure and should have held a longer fight.
House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, and other House Democrats expressed their frustration, with Senate members. Jeffries spoke to CBS News and said that “Democrats remain strongly opposed” to the bill that was signed. Jeffries ensured that “House Democrats are in this fight until we win this fight. This fight is not over for us. We’re just getting started,” he said in the interview.
All in all, after 43 days, the House Democrats are upset that there is no clear indication on if the tax credits of the Affordable Care Act will ever be extended. In short, it will not occur.
Rep. Don Davis (D NC-01) is one of the House Democrats that decided to stray away from the party’s fight and vote in favor of House Republicans in order to reopen the government.
He spoke to NewsNation. “For me, the vote became so important to ease the pain of so many families, especially as the holidays are approaching,” said Davis.”While we have moved through the longest shutdown in U.S. history, it’s elevated this issue, and that’s why even after the vote, you begin to see in the House, Republicans, Democrats still coming together.”
Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett immediately released a statement on her social media and said, “There is nothing “clean” about the Continuing Resolution that was passed tonight. Sure, it reopens the government—but it does nothing to address the healthcare crisis that Republicans created.” She continued, “Republicans have proven over and over again that they can’t govern. It’s a damn shame—and I hope the American people remember who stood with them and who turned their backs on them.”
Crockett has also made it a point to demand that the Department of Justice and FBI focus on releasing the Epstein Files, alluding to the shutdown may have been the Trump administration’s way of using a distraction from that. The House will be voting on if the full Epstein Files will be released on Nov. 18.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R.-La.) blamed democrats for the length of the shutdown saying “Democrats were responsible for this” and that he felt “very relieved,” about it coming to an end.
