Government Shutdown Ends After Record 54-Day Absence

The House of Representatives narrowly approved a stopgap funding bill to end the government shutdown last night, marking one full day in session after being out for 54 days. The Wednesday vote was the first time House members voted since House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., sent members home after the chamber passed its initial version of a continuing resolution in mid-September. House members reflected on the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, with some expressing relief and others criticizing the prolonged absence. "We were gone far too long," said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., who had been critical of the shutdown. "It's a shame we had to go through this, but I'm glad we're back to work." Raskin and other Democrats had pushed for a longer-term spending bill, but Republicans had insisted on a short-term fix. The shutdown had significant impacts on various industries, including federal contractors, small businesses, and national parks. Many federal employees were furloughed or worked without pay, causing financial strain for thousands of families. The shutdown also disrupted critical services, such as food assistance programs and disaster relief efforts. The House Speaker, Mike Johnson, had initially sent members home after the chamber passed its initial version of a continuing resolution in mid-September. Johnson had argued that the short-term fix was necessary to give lawmakers more time to negotiate a longer-term spending bill. However, the prolonged absence of the House of Representatives had hindered the legislative process, causing delays and frustration among lawmakers. The Senate had approved a longer-term spending bill earlier in the week, but the House's approval of the stopgap funding bill was necessary to end the shutdown. The bill now heads to the Senate for final approval, where it is expected to pass. Once signed into law, the bill will provide temporary funding for the government until a longer-term spending bill can be passed. As the House returns to work, lawmakers will focus on passing a longer-term spending bill to avoid another shutdown. The Senate's version of the bill includes funding for several key priorities, including border security and disaster relief. However, the House and Senate will need to reconcile their differences and pass a final bill before the end of the fiscal year. In the meantime, lawmakers will also focus on addressing the impacts of the shutdown, including providing back pay to furloughed employees and restoring services to national parks and other affected areas. The prolonged absence of the House of Representatives has highlighted the need for more efficient and effective legislative processes, and lawmakers will likely seek to implement reforms to prevent similar shutdowns in the future.