On November 12, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 222-209 to pass a Senate-approved spending package, officially ending the 35-day impasse that triggered the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
Two days earlier, on November 10, the Senate approved the same legislation by a 60-40 margin. With the House’s approval, the bill now heads to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law this week.
The economic fallout has been significant: the Congressional Budget Office estimates $14 billion in lost growth. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers missed paychecks, national parks stayed closed, and backlog of visa and permit applications grew—impacting travelers, digital nomads, and small businesses alike.
Young entrepreneurs and startups awaiting SBA loans and regulatory approvals found their plans on hold, highlighting how political gridlock can ripple through local and global supply chains. Tech firms monitoring federal contracts also faced delays in innovation projects.
The narrow vote margins in both chambers underscore deep partisan divides. Policy experts say this cycle should prompt lawmakers to explore longer-term budget frameworks or automatic measures that prevent future shutdowns.
With agencies set to reopen and back pay on the way, federal operations will ramp up in the days ahead. For a generation of globally minded citizens, the shutdown serves as a reminder of the real-world stakes behind fiscal debates—and the power of timely compromise in a connected world.
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Deal to end longest-ever U.S. government shutdown clears Congress
cgtn.com
