Congress Reopens Government After Record Shutdown; Key Health Programs Extended to January 30

​On November 12, President Trump signed legislation to reopen the federal government after a record 41-day shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. The law provides full-year funding for three appropriations bills through September 30, 2026: Agriculture and FDA, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. The remainder of the government is funded through January 30, 2026. The law also extended several health provisions through January 30, including Medicare telehealth flexibilities and funding for community health centers, the National Health Service Corps, and the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program. It recalls agency employees who were terminated during the shutdown, but does not extend the enhanced premium health care tax credits that were central to Democrats’ demands. Eight Senate and six House Democrats joined the vast majority of Republicans in supporting the legislation. 

​Senate Majority Leader John Thune pledged to allow a vote on a proposal to extend the enhanced ACA premium tax credit subsidies by mid-December. The enhanced subsidies expire on December 31. It is not clear what bill text for this vote will look like, and a House vote is not guaranteed.
 
Congress must pass the other nine appropriations bills and further extend the health provisions by January 30.