America Reopens: The Longest Government Shutdown in U.S. History Comes to an End

The United States has finally emerged from its longest-ever government shutdown, after a 43-day standstill that paralysed federal agencies, grounded flights, and shook public confidence in Washington’s ability to function. The funding bill, signed over the weekend, restores operations across the federal government and brings hundreds of thousands of furloughed workers back on to the payroll.
The shutdown, triggered by a political deadlock over spending priorities, left roughly 900,000 federal employees without pay and caused significant delays in key public services. Air travel was one of the most visible casualties: shortages of air-traffic controllers and security staff resulted in widespread cancellations and hours-long queues at major airports. National parks, benefit offices, coastal patrols, and food-safety inspections also struggled to operate.
Economists warn that the long-term impact may be substantial. Lost productivity, disrupted contracts and consumer uncertainty are expected to cost the U.S. economy billions. For many federal employees, the financial damage will not be resolved by the resumption of pay alone.
Politically, the fallout is only beginning. The shutdown has exposed deep fractures not only between Democrats and Republicans, but within the Republican Party itself. Questions now hang over the government’s stability heading into an election year, and over whether similar brinkmanship could return if negotiations falter again.
For now, federal buildings are reopening, flights are stabilising, and wages are being restored. But the episode has renewed a broader debate: how resilient is a democracy when its basic machinery can grind to a halt?

Sources (no links):
– Associated Press – reports on the end of the shutdown
– Reuters – analysis of the economic and political fallout
– The Guardian – coverage of the political negotiations and aftermath