Shutdown Ends After 43 Days — Relief for Federal Workers, Disproportionate Impact on Black Employees

It’s over: a 43-day shutdown concludes

The longest U.S. government shutdown on record formally ended after a small group of Democratic senators broke with party leadership to advance a funding deal. The Senate passed the measure on Monday, the House approved it on Wednesday, and President Donald Trump signed the funding bill late that night.

What the deal does

Key provisions: the agreement reverses planned federal worker furloughs and blocks additional layoffs through January, guarantees back pay for furloughed employees, and fully funds Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits through 2026. However, Democrats’ top priority — extending health-care tax credits — was left for a separate vote scheduled for mid-December.

Who was most affected

Black Americans were hit particularly hard. Although they make up roughly 13 percent of the U.S. population, they represent nearly 20 percent of the federal workforce. Because of that overrepresentation, Black families bore a disproportionately large share of furloughs, lost pay and reduced access to services during the shutdown.

Services that continued and those disrupted

Essential staff such as law-enforcement officers and air-traffic controllers remained on the job. Social Security payments and Medicare benefits continued because those programs are mandatory spending and not subject to short-term appropriations. The U.S. Postal Service, which is self-funded, also continued operations, and many national parks remained partially open.

Core safety-net programs like SNAP and WIC operated only subject to available contingency funding. SNAP became a focal point of legal and political dispute: officials first said benefits would not be paid, then pledged partial payments, and federal courts ordered full funding. A Supreme Court order temporarily allowed the administration to pause payments pending appeal, leaving many families without critical assistance.

Scale and economic strain

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that as many as 750,000 federal workers per day were furloughed at the peak. Because many employees live paycheck to paycheck, missed paychecks strained household finances and pushed thousands toward food banks and emergency assistance.

Why shutdowns hit Black employees harder

Research and interviews indicate Black federal employees are less likely to occupy the highest-paid civil-service grades and typically have smaller emergency savings. Cheryl Monroe, who began her federal career at the IRS in 1987, told The Associated Press that white employees are more frequently in higher-paying roles that allow larger savings buffers. Michael Neal of the Urban Institute noted that, based on 2019 data, the median liquid assets for white households were about $8,100 compared with roughly $1,500 for Black households, making it harder for Black families to absorb lost pay.

"If you’re starting to see greater volatility — one moment you’re working, the next you’re furloughed and not sure when your next paycheck is coming — that might make people pause," said Neal, noting potential long-term effects on the attractiveness of federal employment.

Context and trends

The federal government has experienced roughly 22 shutdowns over the past half-century. Analysts point to a growing willingness among some lawmakers to use shutdown threats as political leverage, a trend that accelerated after the Tea Party movement in the early 2010s. Shutdowns that once were rare have become a more frequent disruption to the budget process and federal employees' livelihoods.

This story has been updated.