USA15 November, 20252 min read
Trump Ends Longest U.S. Government Shutdown, Reopens Smithsonian Museums and National Zoo
President Trump signed a funding bill, ending the 43-day federal government shutdown. Bill guarantees back pay and directs furloughed federal employees to return to work.
44 outlets told this the same way.
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43-Day Shutdown Ends
President Trump formally ended the 43-day partial federal government shutdown by signing a stopgap funding bill late Wednesday.
“The 43-day partial government shutdown ended after President Trump signed a short-term spending bill funding agencies through Jan. 30.”
The measure immediately reopened many agencies and services while funding most departments only through Jan. 30, 2026, with some funded for longer.
Multiple outlets reported it was the longest shutdown in U.S. history, and the House approved the measure 222–209 after a Senate deal.
The measure’s passage marked the formal end of the 43-day closure, and the signing restored operational authority to agencies.
It also set a new short-term deadline for Congress to finish full-year appropriations.
Shutdown effects on federal workers
The shutdown’s human toll and near-term operational effects were widely reported, with hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed or working without pay, airports and travelers facing major disruptions, and food banks seeing increased demand. Outlets quantified the federal workforce impact differently, with ABC reporting about 670,000 furloughed employees and Government Executive noting more than 1 million federal workers affected overall (furloughed or working without pay). Several sources also emphasized that the law requires back pay and pauses planned layoffs or reductions in force at least through the short-term funding window.
Reopening of Smithsonian and Zoo
The Smithsonian Institution and the National Zoo, among the public-facing institutions most visibly affected, began reopening on a rolling schedule. Sources report that several museums — including the National Museum of American History, the National Air and Space Museum, and the Udvar-Hazy Center — reopened first, with other museums and research centers following in the days after.
“The Smithsonian’s National Zoo reopened to the public on Saturday after being closed since Oct. 11 because of the government shutdown.”
The National Zoo welcomed crowds when it reopened after being closed for about a month. Local reporting emphasized visitors returning to see popular animals and exhibits, while national outlets highlighted the large-scale demand for reopened spaces.
Political and legislative disputes
Democrats were angry that the short-term package did not extend enhanced Affordable Care Act premium subsidies. There was also controversy over a Senate-originated provision that could let certain senators sue the government over alleged warrantless searches of their records. Coverage showed fractures within and between parties, with several Democrats voting with Republicans to end the shutdown.
Some Republicans objected to the new lawsuits provision. Leaders on both sides pledged follow-up action, with Democrats pressing for subsidy votes and some House Republicans seeking repeal of the lawsuit language.
Effects of 43-day shutdown
Observers warned the damage from the 43-day closure will linger, noting expected delays in backlogs, continued travel disruptions, and economic costs, while also documenting public eagerness to return to reopened institutions. Some outlets estimated measurable economic hits and emphasized that funding runs only until late January, leaving the risk of another shutdown. Coverage tone varies: some outlets stressed operational recovery and crowds at museums, while others focused on political blame and potential economic consequences.
“Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo have begun reopening to the public after weeks of closures caused by the recent U.S. government shutdown.”