Trump Signs Funding Bill, Ending Record 43-Day Government Shutdown

The United States government is officially back in operation after President Donald Trump signed a long-awaited funding bill on Wednesday, ending the record-breaking 43-day shutdown. The bill, which passed the Senate on Monday and cleared the House of Representatives two days later, provides temporary funding for government operations until January 30.

The shutdown, which had stalled critical federal functions and left hundreds of thousands of workers without pay, came to a close just hours after Trump’s signature. Speaking at the White House, the President signaled a willingness to work across party lines, particularly on healthcare, one of the major sticking points in the negotiations.

“I’m always willing to work with anyone, including the other party,” Trump said following the signing. “We’ll work on something having to do with health care. We can do a lot better.”

Healthcare Dispute Finally Eased

The shutdown largely stemmed from disagreements over healthcare funding. Democrats had pushed for increased allocations toward healthcare programs, while Republicans preferred to revisit the issue after passing the broader spending package. 

The compromise bill allows both sides more time to negotiate long-term funding solutions for fiscal year 2026 while ensuring that government operations resume in the meantime.

This latest shutdown was the longest in U.S. history, surpassing previous records and underscoring the deep partisan divide in Washington. While the bill only funds operations temporarily, it represents a much-needed truce after weeks of political stalemate.

What the Government Reopening Means for Crypto

The reopening of the government is expected to reignite progress in several key crypto-related agencies, including the SEC and the CFTC. Both regulators had been operating with limited capacity during the shutdown, delaying decisions on several high-profile crypto initiatives.

Crypto ETF issuers, in particular, have been waiting for the SEC to move forward on pending spot-crypto ETF applications. Meanwhile, the CFTC is now set to proceed with the November 19 confirmation hearing of Mike Selig, President Trump’s nominee to lead the agency.

The Treasury will also resume work on the GENIUS Act, a legislative proposal centered around stablecoin regulation, after collecting public feedback earlier this fall.

Despite these developments, the crypto market’s reaction has been subdued. Bitcoin’s price showed little movement following the announcement, a contrast to previous government reopenings that sometimes triggered market optimism. For now, the broader financial world seems to be taking a wait-and-see approach as Washington gets back to business.