Longest Government Shutdown In History Finally Officially Over After More Than Six Weeks

The longest government shutdown in American history ended with the stroke of a pen by President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Wednesday night.

Trump signed a spending package into law funding the government through the end of January, concluding a 43-day standoff with Democrats. The spending measure will provide missed paychecks to the swath of government employees reporting to work during the government shutdown including air traffic controllers and Capitol Police while sending hundreds of thousands of furloughed employees back to the office.

“I just want to tell you the country has never been in better shape,” the president said as he signed the continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government passed by the House and the Senate. “We went through this short-term disaster with the Democrats because they thought it would be good politically. And it’s an honor now to sign this incredible bill and get our country working again.”

The record-breaking shutdown also disrupted air travel across the country, limited access to federal food aid and certain healthcare services and cost the economy billions of dollars. Federal food aid for millions of Americans were also jeopardized by the funding lapse.

“The damage caused by the Democrats with this reckless government shutdown cannot be forgotten,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday. “It is entirely the fault of the Democrat party.”

The signing ceremony immediately followed the House of Representatives approving a Senate-passed funding package during a vote of 222 to 209 largely along party lines. Just two House Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Greg Steube of Florida defected while the measure earned the support of six democrats.