by Erich Rumson ’28 on November 20, 2025
News
The longest government shutdown in American history came to a close last Wednesday, Nov. 12, when a spending bill was passed by the House of Representatives and signed into law by President Donald Trump. The 43-day-long shutdown revealed deep partisan tensions in Congress, as lawmakers tried and failed for over a month to break the political stalemate, which froze funding for government programs and paychecks for employees.
A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass a spending bill which would fund the government beyond a certain deadline. Typically, these occur when there is a major dispute between parties as to where funding should go. The last shutdown occurred back in 2019 during Trump’s first term, and was initiated by Republicans to secure funding for border security. Shutdowns can result in federal employees being furloughed or going unpaid, and can also lead to a loss of funding for government assistance programs and agencies like the National Park Service or Federal Student Aid.
The latest shutdown began on Oct. 1, and was brought on by Senate Democrats seeking to preserve healthcare subsidies that were due to expire this month. According to the Wall Street Journal, the subsidies, which were introduced during the Biden administration, make healthcare plans under the Affordable Care Act cheaper for the millions of Americans it covers. Multiple attempts by Republicans to pass spending bills reopening the government were struck down over the past month and a half, as Democrats insisted on getting extensions for the expiring healthcare subsidies.
The deadlock in Congress lasted for over a month, until last week, a deal was finally made between Republicans and a group of moderate Democrats in the Senate who broke party lines. The agreement was reached amidst mounting pressure on Congress to bring the shutdown to an end. Many government employees, including air traffic controllers, were going without pay, leading to major staffing shortages and delays for travelers. Funding for government programs, such as SNAP benefits, was also running out, adding further pressure to reach a compromise. The spending bill to reopen the government reached enough votes to pass the Senate last Monday, Nov. 10, and was passed by the House and signed into law by the president two days later.
The deal did not achieve the Democrats’ aims of securing an extension for healthcare subsidies, but it did include a promise from Senate Republicans to hold a vote on the issue by mid-December. According to the Wall Street Journal, this failure to achieve the goals of the shutdown led to some infighting among Democrats, as party leaders, including Chuck Schumer, faced criticism for not keeping the party united. These tensions in the Democratic Party come despite the party’s victories in the recent off year elections, including the races for New York City mayor and Virginia governor. The Republican Party, meanwhile, has remained mostly united behind President Trump, who criticized the shutdown as “extortion” brought on by “extremists in the other party.” The recent shutdown has been one of many examples of deep partisanship in Congress, though its resolution shows that compromise can still take place in a divided country.