The federal government is officially open again after President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan bill Wednesday evening, ending a 43-day shutdown that halted services, furloughed workers and froze food assistance benefits across the country.
The House approved the legislation earlier in the day in a narrow 222–209 vote. All six of Arizona’s Republican representatives backed the measure, while the state’s three Democrats opposed it. Rep. Adelita Grijalva — sworn in only hours before after a lengthy certification delay — cast her first vote in line with her party.
The bill reverses the sweeping furloughs ordered by the administration since Oct. 1 and lifts the suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments imposed at the start of November. But federal officials said it may take time for families to receive delayed benefits, and agencies are still assessing how quickly operations can return to normal.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cautioned that air travel disruptions won’t disappear overnight. FAA-mandated flight cuts will stay in place until staffing levels improve and safety benchmarks are met, meaning airports could feel lingering effects even as federal workers return.
The Senate passed the bill 60–40 on Monday, with Arizona’s Democratic senators, Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, voting no. The stalemate began when Senate Democrats pushed for negotiations to renew Affordable Care Act tax credits expiring Jan. 1 — a priority they ultimately didn’t secure in the final agreement.
Still, party leaders signaled the issue isn’t settled. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the fight to preserve the tax subsidies will continue, noting in a statement that the push for an extension is “far from over.” A full summary of the legislation is available on Congress.gov, where updates will continue as agencies begin restarting operations.
