The longest government shutdown in U.S. history recently ended after 43 days, concluding the political standoff that began on Oct. 1. It surpassed the previous shutdown record of 35 days, set in 2018. Government shutdowns occur when Congress fails to pass the necessary funding legislation for the upcoming fiscal year, leaving the government without the legal power to spend money. These closures have substantial real-world effects; during the 2025 government shutdown, all nonessential government operations, including national parks, federal museums and several benefit programs, ceased. The new funding deal, passed to end the shutdown, keeps the government open until Jan. 30, 2026.
Health Care Debate
A major factor prolonging the shutdown was disagreement surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the future of federal healthcare subsidies. Subsidies are federal funds that help millions of Americans afford health insurance coverage. The current subsidies in place are set to expire at the end of 2025. Democrats are pushing for a one-year extension to continue supporting those without employer-sponsored or government-provided healthcare. The bill signed to reopen the government did not address the ACA, leaving much uncertainty around what healthcare will cost without an extension of the expiring assistance. Congress has adjourned until January without a solution, meaning premiums for 2026 have already begun to rise as open enrollment continues without a deal in place. This issue was originally tabled for later discussion as lawmakers prioritized ending the shutdown, but a recent “discharge petition” will force a vote to extend the subsidies in the new year.
Federal Workers
During the shutdown, approximately 750,000 federal employees were furloughed, while essential workers such as TSA staff, active military personnel and executive staff continued working without pay. A furlough is an unpaid leave of absence in which an employee is temporarily laid off but expected to return when the government reopens. The newly signed funding bill included back pay for furloughed workers and severance for those who received reduction-in-force notices. Still, the economic toll of missed paychecks has been significant, creating major hardship during the prolonged gridlock.
Flight Disruptions
More than 9,000 flights were canceled nationwide as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) faced severe staffing shortages. Throughout the shutdown, TSA and air traffic control workers continued reporting to work to maintain safety, but reduced flight schedules still created unease for travelers heading into the holiday season. The FAA has since lifted all flight restrictions at major U.S. airports prompted by the shutdown after reporting a decline in staffing-related safety issues.
SNAP Benefits
The shutdown also threatened the status of SNAP benefits, which provide food assistance to 42 million Americans. Funded federally through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, SNAP became the center of a legal battle between the Trump administration and several states over how the program should be financed. A district court judge directed the use of contingency funds to issue full SNAP payments after initial disruption, but officials said they only had the means to distribute partial benefits. The same judge then ordered that additional funds be drawn from child nutrition programs to cover the full payments.Â
The Justice Department appealed the district court’s ruling, emphasizing the risk of diverting money from child nutrition programs. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson temporarily froze the lower court’s decision, leaving the future of SNAP payments uncertain as millions of Americans grappled with food insecurity. Currently, all SNAP funding has been restored, and recipients will receive their full allotments, though the timeline varies by state.
The end of this 43-day shutdown marked a temporary return to stability, but the political and economic effects linger. Federal employees have returned to work and essential programs have resumed, but the status of healthcare subsidies remains unresolved. Still, there is hope that lawmakers can build on this progress to reach lasting agreements.