Government reopens after 43 days; programs restart, federal workers return
The longest federal shutdown in U.S. history ended Wednesday night after President Donald Trump signed legislation to reopen the government, bringing a close to a 43-day closure that caused widespread disruption. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees who went without pay will return to work over the coming days. Closed preschool and food assistance programs will resume, federal agencies and national landmarks will reopen, and crucial government data will begin flowing again.
Politics: who supported the funding bill and what's next
Senators approved the funding package, but most House Democrats opposed it, arguing the measure did not do enough to address rising health-care costs. Six moderate House Democrats broke with most of their party and voted in favor. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the shutdown "pointless," while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats will continue pushing to extend Obamacare tax credits.
Travel and logistics
Even with the shutdown over, airlines and travel experts warned that passengers should plan for possible flight disruptions and delays throughout the week as agencies and systems return to full operations.
Epstein documents and a high-profile email
House Democrats plan to release additional documents related to Jeffrey Epstein after the publication of an email in which the convicted financier reportedly wrote that President Trump "spent hours at my house" with one of Epstein’s alleged victims. The email alleges Trump "knew about the girls." The House is scheduled to vote next week on a bill that would compel the Justice Department to release all Epstein-related files. Rep. Adelita Grijalva was sworn into the House after a seven-week delay, securing support for that anticipated vote.
Other national and local developments
- Immigration: A federal judge in Illinois indicated that hundreds of immigration detainees could be freed, saying it seemed unlikely many were the drug traffickers or gang members ICE described. The ruling could lead to the release of people detained during Chicago enforcement actions.
- Labor: Starbucks employees staged strikes across the U.S. on Red Cup Day as part of ongoing labor actions.
- New York City hiring interest: Thousands applied for positions tied to Mayor-elect Mamdani.
Currency: the penny's last run
In a symbolic moment for U.S. currency, the U.S. Mint held a ceremony on Nov. 12, 2025, to strike what it called the nation's last circulating pennies. Decades of inflation and declining use contributed to the coin's retirement from everyday circulation.
Sports and culture
The 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics announced a notable move toward gender equity: the women’s 100-meter final will open the first night of medal competition, with the men’s 100 scheduled for the following evening. U.S. sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson said the change makes the road to LA28 "about to be something special."
Entertainment highlights include the arrival of a new trailer for "The Devil Wears Prada 2," Dolly Parton's reflections on turning 80, a fresh "End of an Era" trailer from Taylor Swift, and interviews with "Stranger Things" stars Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Finn Wolfhard and Gaten Matarazzo ahead of the Season 5 finale. Viewers are also watching the new series "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," and college basketball star Caitlin Clark has been spotted hitting the links.
About this briefing
This briefing was compiled by Nicole Fallert, a newsletter writer at USA TODAY. To receive this briefing by email or to contact Nicole, sign up or write to NFallert@usatoday.com.
