The longest government shutdown in U.S. history is over. Here's what you need to know

"The Democratic base has been urging its leaders to show more fight. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer caught tremendous blowback in March for doing an about-face and going along with Republicans to keep the government open despite what the left saw as an odious spending bill. When the latest funding fight came up, Schumer this time showed a united front with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. Arm in arm, they refused to go along with continuing to fund the government, and made the key issue extending health care subsidies, which, if not extended, would mean tens of millions of Americans would see their health care costs increased."

"How did it end? It ended without the health care extensions Democrats were fighting for. Eight moderate senators crossed the aisle and indicated Sunday night that they had struck a deal with Senate Republicans to reopen the government. The reason they didn't hold out longer, this group said, was because it was obvious President Trump and congressional Republicans weren't going to negotiate, and too many people were suffering. The Trump administration correctly gambled that enough Democrats would not be able to stomach the amount of pain the administration was willing to inflict on the 42 million recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and more than 3 million federal workers."

The government reopened after the longest shutdown in U.S. history, lasting 43 days. Democratic leaders refused to approve a continuing resolution unless health care subsidies were extended to prevent increased costs for tens of millions. Eight moderate senators struck a deal with Senate Republicans to reopen the government without the sought health-care extensions, citing suffering among SNAP recipients and federal workers. The Trump administration gambled that Democrats would not withstand pressure on 42 million SNAP recipients and over 3 million federal workers. The enacted bill funds the government through Jan. 30 and guarantees SNAP, WIC, VA, and Congress funding through September 2026, and addresses firings and lost pay for federal employees.

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