On Nov 12, 2025, the longest government shutdown in United States history came to an end. It lasted for 42 days, surpassing the Dec. 2018 shutdown over the expansion of the Mexican-U.S. border barrier. The news comes just in time for travelers over Thanksgiving Break, as airlines saw many delays and cancellations in major airports.
For context, the shutdown began on Oct 1. 2025, the start of the new fiscal year, because Congress failed to pass appropriations are better known as federal budgets. The core of the dispute centered on the Affordable Care Act and its tax credits. The purpose of the act is to lower healthcare costs, such as insurance.
Many Democrats in the Senate demanded that these be extended, while Republicans resisted. President Trump signed a funding bill into law, officially reopening the government. However, the temporary deal is temporary. It provides funding for most federal agencies through January 30, 2026. It also includes some full-year plans for departments such as Veterans Affairs.
During the shutdown, around 900,000 federal workers were laid off. Another 2 million more worked without pay. Some programs, such as Medicaid, Medicare, and the Department of Defense, kept operating, and many other agencies, including the National Institute of Health and the Centers for Disease Control, were partially shut down.
One of the most important federal programs at risk was SNAP, or the modern-day version of food stamps. Over 40 million Americans rely on the program to buy groceries and feed their families. The monthly payments provided to these people stopped for the 42-day shutdown.
The government shutdown also caused travel problems across the country, especially for anyone flying. Even though air traffic controllers and TSA officers still had to work, they were working unpaid. Airport security became more unpredictable. Lines grew longer because fewer officers were available at some checkpoints, and many travelers arrived at their gates much later than planned. The Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, reduced the number of flights at many airports. This meant airlines had fewer takeoff and landing slots, which quickly led to more delays and cancellations.
With the government up and running again, travelers and government workers nationwide can breathe a sigh of relief.
