What’s the Federal Spending Bill and Why Was There a Government Shutdown? | Columbus News
The U.S. government shutdown of 2025 was the longest in American history, lasting over six weeks. Many federal offices closed, hundreds of thousands of workers were unpaid, and essential services slowed down.
But why did this happen? The shutdown occurred because Congress could not agree on how to spend the government’s money. The main disagreement was over healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Democrats wanted to protect these subsidies for millions of Americans, while Republicans opposed including them in the funding plan.
To end the shutdown, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a federal spending bill. This bill is essentially a plan that tells the government how to spend money, which departments to fund, and for how long. The current spending bill funds government operations through January 30, 2026, ensuring federal workers are paid and offices can reopen.
While the government is now operational, some issues, like healthcare subsidies, remain unresolved, meaning lawmakers may need to negotiate again early next year.
For Ohio and Columbus residents, this means local federal services, offices, and programs affected by the shutdown are now returning to normal. Understanding these bills and shutdowns helps everyone see how politics can impact daily life.
U.S. House of Representatives Passes Spending Bill, Ending Longest Government Shutdown
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