President Donald Trump signed a law this Wednesday that marked the end of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
After 43 days of federal paralysis, the reopening begins, but experts warn that the return to normalcy will be a slow, costly, and politically tense process.
The approval of a funding package by Congress, followed by presidential enactment, brings an end to six weeks of a stalemate that paralyzed key state operations, suspended salaries for more than 800,000 federal employees, and left millions of citizens vulnerable to disruptions in essential services.
“It is an honor to sign this incredible bill and ensure our country gets back on track”, Trump stated during the signing ceremony, where he was joined by Republican leaders.
The legislation was approved by the House of Representatives with 222 votes in favor and 209 against.
Only six Democrats voted in favor, while in the Senate eight Democratic senators distanced themselves from their party to reach a bipartisan agreement that could resolve the crisis.
This effort took place in a context of increasing public pressure, visible economic impacts, and a Congress that has been virtually paralyzed since September.
The result is a law that guarantees the functioning of the government until January 30, 2026, but it also includes controversial provisions, such as a clause that would allow some senators to sue the Department of Justice over past investigations.
This has opened a new rift within Congress, even among the Republicans themselves.
What changes from now on?
The approved agreement not only reopens federal agencies but also ensures the retroactive transfer of salaries to hundreds of thousands of public employees.
It also includes increases in funding for the Border Patrol, food assistance, childhood nutrition programs, and hospitals under the Department of Veterans Affairs.
However, not everything is good news.
The final version of the text removed the extension of subsidies to the healthcare system, leaving the continuity of programs related to Obamacare in suspense and opening a new front for political confrontation in December.
What does the reopening mean for citizens?
Although the law immediately enables the funds, the return to normalcy will not be automatic.
Officials and specialists in public administration warn that the full reintegration of employees, the resumption of administrative operations, and the restoration of services will occur in phases.
"The update of systems, the restart of payrolls, and the management of the accumulated backlog will take days or even weeks," explained a high-ranking official from the Department of Administrative Management, as quoted by the U.S. press.
Key sectors affected:
Air traffic control: The Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, confirmed that the air traffic controllers will receive 70% of their back pay within the first 48 hours, and the remainder by the end of the weekend. However, he warns that normal operating levels may take longer to resume due to operational congestion.
Food assistance: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will take up to a week to normalize transfers to beneficiaries. State systems need to be updated, and providers are facing a backlog of high demand.
Environmental and Market Administration: The Environmental Protection Agency and the Securities and Exchange Commission halted their regulatory functions during the shutdown, resulting in delays for key certifications in the industry.
National parks and tourism: Although many areas remained open, the lack of maintenance and cleanliness deteriorated the tourist experience and caused significant losses to the sector.
The cost of paralysis: million-dollar losses and international consequences
During the six weeks of closure, the economic impact was profound and widespread.
Independent estimates place the losses between 10 billion and 15 billion dollars per week, accounting for the impact on consumption, investment, tax collection, and tourism.
“Millions of families could face new delays until the technical infrastructure regains its full capacity,” warned Bloomberg.
This is compounded by a significant international effect. The lack of economic data created uncertainty in global markets, and customs barriers had a negative impact on exports and imports.
Latin American, European, and Asian companies reported difficulties coordinating with US agencies.
Pending disputes and the promise of new conflicts
Although the shutdown has ended, the budget agreement does not resolve the underlying issues. Key decisions remain pending:
Health subsidies: The expiration of the tax credits from Obamacare in December foreshadows a direct confrontation between the White House and the Democratic opposition.
Healthcare reform: Trump has once again brought his proposal to reform the healthcare system to the forefront.
“Obamacare was a disaster... We can do much better,” he stated. His intention is to eliminate payments to insurance companies and redirect the money “directly to the people.”
Agricultural budget and energy credits: Other fundamental projects for the rural economy and the energy transition are also facing imminent deadlines.
Epstein Case: In an unexpected turn, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that he would accelerate the introduction of a bill to require the Department of Justice to declassify all files related to Jeffrey Epstein, after obtaining the minimum of 218 signatures to force a vote.
Crisis, wear, and institutional fragility
The episode has exposed the vulnerability of the American political system. The use of the shutdown as a tool for pressure, by both the White House and Congress, highlights the limitations of a model in which partisan differences can completely paralyze the functioning of the state.
"If we eliminated the parliamentary obstruction, this would never happen again," Trump said, referring to the Senate rules that require a supermajority to move forward with certain legislation.
However, the truth is that, beyond legal technicalities, the deterioration of governance and the increase in polarization are behind the unprecedented prolongation of the shutdown.
Representative Rosa DeLauro denounced that some senators "voted to pocket taxpayers' money: $500,000 every time their records were inspected," regarding the clause that would allow suing the Department of Justice.
For his part, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries warned: "This fight is not over. We are just getting started."
The end of the shutdown undoubtedly represents an immediate relief. However, the path toward true administrative, economic, and institutional recovery will be long and fraught with obstacles. The return to normalcy will depend not only on technical timelines but also on the political climate in Washington.
The pressure for lasting agreements, the specter of new budgetary paralysis, and the pre-electoral tensions leading up to 2026 create an uncertain outlook.
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