43 Days Later: the Government restarts after the longest shutdown in U.S. history

After weeks of paralysis and millions of families left without aid, the president has signed the bill that restarts federal operations. But the reopening will not be immediate, and political tensions remain high.

President Donald Trump has signed the law ending the longest shutdown in U.S. history, closing a 43-day period that paralyzed the federal administration and left millions of Americans without financial support. The government can now resume normal operations, though it will take days—perhaps weeks—before public offices return to full capacity and clear the enormous backlog that has built up.

According to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, the shutdown has taken a heavy toll on the economy, cutting quarterly GDP growth by about 1.5 percentage points. Only part of those losses will be recovered in the coming months, as federal employees receive back pay and public programs become operational again.

Congress approved temporary funding through January 30, in a vote that sharply divided the parties. Democrats criticized the lack of renewed funding for Affordable Care Act health subsidies, one of the central points of their political fight. The suspension of funds has had severe repercussions: more than 40 million low-income citizens did not receive their November food stamps, and states will now have to work at full speed to reactivate the distribution system.

Meanwhile, thousands of federal employees will return to work after more than a month without pay. Back pay is expected to begin over the weekend, while the White House has assured that military personnel will continue to be paid regularly.

The shutdown also halted the release of key economic data, making it harder to assess the state of the U.S. economy. Although Trump described the reopening as a victory, many analysts note that the shutdown ended as others have before: with the side attempting to use the paralysis as political leverage ultimately forced to yield under public pressure.

The compromise reached funds most federal agencies through the end of January, leaving open the possibility of another clash between the White House and Congress. The healthcare issue, at the heart of the conflict, could become one of the key topics of the 2026 midterm election campaign.

With the reopening, the United States now seeks to turn the page. But the economic and political scars of this long standoff may leave a lasting mark on the nation’s memory.

Andrea Pelucchi