The historic government shutdown is coming to an end, but another budget fight looms

The longest and perhaps most economically damaging government shutdown in American history is on track to end on its 43rd day.

The House of Representatives voted on A bill passed Wednesday to fund the government until January 30. This vote paves the way for the shutdown to end after President Donald Trump signed the funding bill into law.

Representatives followed the lead of the Senate, which broke a deadlock this weekend after moderate Democratic lawmakers joined Republicans to vote in favor of the funding bill.

The shutdown, which began on October 1, was longer than the previous record shutdown of 34 days in 2018 and 2019.

The shutdown delayed federal employee paychecks, hindered the payment of food benefits to families in need, canceled flights, halted the collection and reporting of important economic data, and undermined consumer confidence among other ripple effects. Forecasters expect the economy to rebound and make up much of the lost ground once federal employees receive back pay, but not without some lasting damage.

Although the lockdown has ended, the conflict that perpetuated it remains. Initially, Democratic lawmakers blocked the funding bills because they wanted to extend health insurance subsidies that lowered premiums for plans under the Affordable Care Act. That support is now set to expire in January, sending premiums up by an average of $1,000 a month for those currently receiving the credits, according to an estimate by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a progressive think tank.

The government reopening bill does not include an extension of benefits, as Democrats have requested. The bill reopens the government for a little more than two months, which could lead to another potential confrontation if the two sides do not reach an agreement before then.