The longest government shutdown in U.S. history concluded after President Trump signed a bill passed by Congress. While the federal government is reopening, a full return to normal operations is not anticipated immediately. Residual effects are expected, including potential delays in federal worker backpay and disruptions in air travel.
Lingering Impacts and Future Outlook
The shutdown's impact may extend beyond the immediate reopening. National parks face challenges in recovering lost visitor revenue, and taxpayers could experience extended wait times for refunds due to backlogs at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The current funding bill secures government operations only until January 30, introducing the possibility of another funding lapse.
Federal Employees and Compensation
Approximately 1.4 million federal workers were affected, with roughly half required to work without pay and hundreds of thousands furloughed for six weeks. Russ Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, instructed furloughed employees to report to work on Thursday.
The bill signed by President Trump includes provisions guaranteeing backpay for federal workers. The timeline for receiving these payments will vary by agency based on their payroll systems, though many employees are anticipated to receive deposits within days of the reopening. Historically, during previous shutdowns, many employees received payments within the first few business days.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food assistance to approximately 42 million Americans, has been secured through September 2026 by the new bill. The program had faced recent uncertainty and legal challenges regarding its funding status during the shutdown. While some beneficiaries had received full monthly allocations, others had received partial payments or none at all. The resumption of government operations will restart SNAP, with the speed of full payment resumption varying by state.
Smithsonian Institution Reopening
The Smithsonian Institution, comprising 21 museums and the National Zoo, will implement a phased reopening:
- The National Museum of American History
- The National Air and Space Museum
- The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (Virginia annex of the Air and Space Museum)
These facilities are scheduled to open on Friday. All other Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo, including its live animal cameras, are expected to resume public access on a rolling basis by Monday.