Federal Government Reopens After Longest Shutdown in History

On Nov. 12, the House passed, and the President signed into law, legislation to reopen the federal government and end the longest U.S. government shutdown in history. The agreement funds most agencies through Jan. 30, 2026, with some full-year appropriations included. Immediate impacts include federal employees returning to work and receiving back pay, resumption of SNAP benefits and other critical programs though operational lags may persist for weeks.

The bill also extends Medicare telehealth coverage – which expired when the shutdown began – through Jan. 30 and retroactively pays for virtual care services delivered to beneficiaries during the shutdown. The deal struck in the Senate includes a stand-alone Senate vote in December on extension of enhanced ACA tax subsidies that will expire at year-end without congressional action. Passage is far from guaranteed and House Speaker Johnson (R-LA) has not committed to a vote.

The White House and key Republicans in Congress have made clear that reforms of the enhanced ACA tax subsidies are necessary for any potential bipartisan agreement. In addition to longstanding interest in addressing program integrity and limiting tax credits for higher-income consumers, the President and key Republicans are calling for reforms that would enable federal health care funding to flow directly to consumers.