Trump Threatens Historic Government Shutdown: How It Could Impact Your Paycheck, Travel Plans, and the 2025 Election

WASHINGTON – The record-breaking President Trump government shutdown could finally be nearing its end after the Senate approved a bipartisan stop-gap funding bill and sent it to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson says a vote could come as early as today. If the measure passes and reaches the President’s desk, it would reopen federal agencies that have been partially closed since October 1, restore pay for roughly 850,000 furloughed workers, and pause Trump’s plans to trim the federal workforce until at least January 30. Key details • 60–40 Senate vote: Nearly every Republican and eight Democrats backed the compromise, which funds the government through January 30 and guarantees full SNAP benefits through the fiscal year. • House battlefield: Johnson’s slim GOP majority will need at least one dozen hold-outs on the right to flip, or rely on Democratic votes, to clear the bill; whip counts overnight suggested he is “within striking distance,” according to leadership aides. • Trump’s stance: The White House said in a written statement that the President views the package as a “good-faith first step” and intends to sign it “promptly.” • What’s missing: Democrats failed to secure automatic extensions for expiring health-insurance subsidies that cover 24 million Americans, setting up another fiscal clash before February. Why it matters The 42-day shutdown has delayed tax refunds, snarled airport security lines, halted National Park operations and frozen small-business loans, costing the economy an estimated $1.8 billion per week, according to Moody’s Analytics. Polling during the standoff showed 50 percent of voters blaming Republicans and 43 percent blaming Democrats, intensifying pressure on both parties as the 2026 midterms approach. Next steps and timeline • House vote: Expected late Wednesday; rule debate begins at noon. • Senate return: If the House amends the bill, the Senate would have to vote again, risking a lapse in air-traffic funding that could ground flights this weekend. • Presidential signature: Trump could sign within hours of final passage, triggering back pay within ten days, per the Office of Personnel Management. What federal workers should know • Paychecks: Direct deposits for missed pay periods will arrive simultaneously; overtime and hazard differentials will be processed the following week. • Retroactive leave: Employees who used personal leave during the shutdown will have hours automatically restored. • Critical services: IRS phone lines, USDA food-safety inspections and SBA loan approvals would resume within 48 hours of enactment. Political fallout Hard-right members of the House Freedom Caucus are threatening to challenge Johnson’s speakership if he relies on Democratic votes, while progressive Democrats accuse their leadership of “surrendering leverage” on health subsidies. Both sides are already signaling that the next funding deadline—just 79 days away—could produce a sequel showdown. Bottom line Momentum is building on Capitol Hill to end the longest President Trump government shutdown yet, but the same unresolved fights over social spending and federal head-count cuts virtually guarantee that Washington’s budget drama will be back before winter is over.