The United States government began the longest shutdown in history — 43 days — on Oct. 1, at 12:01 a.m. This is the second lengthy government shutdown during President Donald Trump’s tenure, with the other occurring in December 2018 during his first term. That shutdown held the record of the most extended shutdown — lasting 35 days — up until now. The runner-up was the 21-day shutdown in 1996 during Bill Clinton’s presidency.
Why Exactly Did the Government Shut Down?
The shutdown was due to a disagreement between Democratic and Republican members of Congress over funding legislation for the 2026 fiscal year. The primary concern was health care policy, specifically whether Congress should approve an extension of the Affordable Care Act. The extension of the act would guarantee that the COVID-19 pandemic-era subsidies remain in place, helping keep ACA plans less expensive for millions of Americans who rely on them.
The BBC reported that, “The [Democratic] party’s main demand was that the bill should include an extension of expiring tax credits that make health insurance cheaper for millions of Americans.” Over the past few weeks, Democrats have seemingly stood firm in their refusal to budge until an agreement is reached.
What are the Effects of the Government Shutdown?
The shutdown doesn’t just affect the everyday duties of the government; it has also had costly effects on the American people. More than one million federal workers were not being paid, including TSA workers, government contractors, and other non-governmental workers.
Additionally, CNN reported that “nearly 42 million people won’t get their full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.” The SNAP contingency fund is insufficient to cover the more than $8 billion in funding that must be disbursed this month, potentially leaving millions of Americans without access to affordable food.
Furthermore, over 1,000 flights nationally have been delayed or cancelled, and these effects on the travel industry are expected to continue.
These are just a few of the effects that the American people are experiencing. However, recent decisions by eight members of Congress have started the process of reopening the government.
Why is the Government Working Towards Reopening?
A new funding bill was passed in the Senate on Nov. 10, as seven Democrats and one independent sided with Republican members to approve the measure. This deal does not give the majority of Democrats the outcome they hoped for; it only extends federal government funding until Jan. 30, but would fund food aid under SNAP until September 2026.
The BBC stated, “It guarantees that all federal workers will receive back-pay, and reverses the shutdown-related layoffs of thousands of federal workers.” Democrats will get a vote in December on extending health care subsidies that are due to expire at the end of the year.
The budget still needs to pass through the House of Representatives and be signed into law by Trump, who claimed he will “abide by the deal.” Since Republicans also have the majority in the House, the bill is expected to pass. The path forward, though, is complicated — House Republicans have yet to commit to voting on the healthcare portion of the deal, unlike their Senate counterparts. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson stated, “I’m not promising anyone anything.”
What does this mean for the average American?
There will be some positive effects of the government reopening: federal workers’ pay will resume, as will government contracting spending and services. Public services will also be restored, such as SNAP (which is currently in effect until September 2026).
However, there will also be negative, lingering effects. This includes permanent losses in output from some economic activities and potential personal budget strain, especially for low-income families that may be dependent on government contracts that might not “bounce back” immediately. According to AP News, “The Congressional Budget Office estimated that a six-week shutdown will reduce growth in this year’s fourth quarter by about 1.5 percentage points.” This means that around $11 billion in economic activity will be permanently lost, primarily due to missed paychecks among federal workers, which resulted in reduced spending at stores, restaurants, and for travel. This loss in GDP will contribute to the already dangerously high unemployment levels, leaving millions of Americans with fewer benefits and fewer job opportunities.
The entire shutdown has harmed the government and eroded the public’s trust. A survey by the University of Michigan showed that consumer sentiment dropped to a three-year low, 50.4, down 6.2% from last month. This is mostly due to pessimism surrounding personal finances and anticipated business conditions.
Overall, while the government starts reopening, there are still many “what ifs” about the future impacts on the American people. One of these “what ifs” is the decision about healthcare spending, which is reportedly scheduled to be brought to Congress in December, to determine whether the ACA will remain more affordable for Americans.
What the whole shutdown has made is a lasting mark in our history books. The record-long shutdown has made an undeniable statement about the Democrats’ resilience. Still, it has also shown how the American people can be hurt when bipartisan agreements cannot be reached.