Filenews 13 November 2025
The largest shutdown in US history, lasting 43 days, ended in the early hours of Thursday (Greek time), after President Donald Trump signed the relevant law, who used the opportunity to attack the Democratic opposition and defend his economic policy.
Trump, speaking in the Oval Office before the signing, said the government "does not give in to blackmail", blaming "extremists of the other party" for the paralysis of the state apparatus. Despite signs of public dissatisfaction with the economy, he argued that "the country has never fared better".
The White House services had previously announced that the President would immediately ratify the law after its approval by the House of Representatives, calling the shutdown "catastrophic" for the economy and the daily lives of millions of citizens.
The House of Representatives approved the text by 222 in favour and 209 against, following the Senate, which had voted on it two days earlier. Only six Democrats supported the Republican majority, while two Republicans voted against.
Republican Speaker Mike Johnson welcomed the end of the "long national nightmare", accusing the Democrats of "futile and unfair manoeuvre" for six weeks.
Health and Social Program Issues
The text extends the current budget until the end of January, but does not clarify what will happen to Obamacare subsidies, an issue that provokes strong reactions from Democrats. The decision of some Democrats to support the law caused a rift in the party, with strong criticism on social networks.
Among the minimum concessions to the opposition is the reinstatement of all federal employees fired since October 1, as well as securing funding through September for the SNAP program, on which 42 million Americans depend.
Sharp reactions
The leader of the Democrats in the House, Hakim Jeffries, called on Republicans to honour their commitment to vote on Obamacare, underlining that "working and middle-class" Americans deserve stability.
According to KFF studies, if subsidies are not extended, health insurance costs will more than double in 2026 for about 24 million citizens.
The effects of the shutdown
Since October 1, more than a million civil servants have gone unpaid, while thousands of flights have been cancelled or delayed due to a lack of air traffic controllers, many of whom have chosen not to work without pay.
With Trump's signature, the federal government is back in operation, while the political disputes that led to the shutdown remain active and are expected to culminate again in the coming weeks' votes.
