Federal Funding Bill Passes, Restoring Pay to Hundreds of Thousands of Federal Workers

The US government shutdown has ended after a record 43-day closure, with the House of Representatives voting to approve a funding bill that will reopen federal agencies through January 30, 2026. The legislation restores pay to hundreds of thousands of federal workers, including air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration personnel. Airlines, airports, and the Federal Aviation Administration will take time to recover from the shutdown, with the FAA planning to lift capacity restrictions on a rolling basis as controller staffing recovers. The shutdown’s effects will continue for several days, with residual delays expected to persist even after the shutdown formally ends. The timing of the shutdown’s end coincides with the peak holiday travel period, which may exacerbate schedule disruptions.