President Trump ends the longest U.S. government shutdown, blames Democrats for “short-term disaster,” and vows renewed focus on national recovery.
After 43 turbulent days that paralyzed federal operations and strained millions of American households, U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a government funding bill, officially ending the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
The standoff, triggered by partisan gridlock over spending priorities, left hundreds of thousands of federal workers without pay, clogged airports with staff shortages, and sent long lines forming at food banks across multiple states.
Trump, flanked by senior advisers at the signing ceremony, hailed the bill as a “victory for the American worker” and a necessary step to “restart the engines of the U.S. government.”
“I just want to tell you — the country has never been in better shape,” Trump declared. “We went through this short-term disaster with the Democrats because they thought it would be good politically. And it’s an honour now to sign this incredible bill and get our country working again.”
The president’s decision to sign the bill — after weeks of tense negotiations — marks the end of a fiscal deadlock that rattled the stock market, interrupted social programs, and tested public patience.
Officials confirmed that federal paychecks will resume immediately, while agencies will begin clearing backlogs caused by the shutdown.
Political analysts say Trump’s remarks framed the reopening as both a restoration of normalcy and a defiant reaffirmation of his economic leadership, a move intended to steady markets and reassure voters that the administration remains focused on growth and stability ahead of the 2026 budget cycle.
