The longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history concluded late Wednesday, after 43 days, when President Trump signed legislation to reopen the government. The resolution followed a narrow 222-209 vote in the House, which passed the measure yesterday, after the Senate’s 60-40 vote on Monday to end the shutdown, where eight Senate Democrats joined with Republicans.
The Continuing Resolution
The legislation, a Continuing Resolution (CR), funds several departments until September 30, 2026, while the majority of the government will be funded until January 30th. The CR includes provisions to:
- Reverse reductions in force of more than 4,000 federal employees during the shutdown
- Protections against further layoffs through the end of January;
- and backpay for furloughed federal employees.
The CR incorporates a “minibus” of three appropriations bills providing full-year funding through fiscal year 2026 (ending September 30th of next year) for the Departments of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, military construction, the legislative branch, and nutrition programs including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Additionally, the CR includes an agreement between Senate Republicans and Democrats to hold a vote on Affordable Care Act (ACA) funding legislation, a key issue during the shutdown, during the second week of December 2025.
What to Expect When the Government Reopens
When the federal government reopens after a shutdown, returning to normal operations doesn’t happen immediately. Tribal nations and organizations should prepare to navigate backlogs, funding adjustments, and operational challenges during the transition period.
To prepare our community for what to expect after the federal government reopens, NAFOA is hosting a webinar, “Reopening the Federal Government: Impacts and Policy Guidance for Tribal Leaders” on Friday, November 21 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Webinar: Reopening the Federal Government: Impacts and Policy Guidance for Tribal Leaders
Friday, November 21, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time
NAFOA invites you to join us for a discussion on how federal government shutdowns affect Native communities and what Tribal leaders can expect as government operations resume. We will be joined by leading policy experts and researchers from the Brookings Institution to provide Tribal leaders, finance officers, and administrators with actionable insights on:
- Immediate impacts on Tribal operations, including delays in federal funding, contract support costs, and program disbursements.
- Service disruptions across key areas: healthcare, education, law enforcement, and social services.
- The reopening process: what to expect as government operations restart and how to navigate the backlog.
- Long-term aftermath: addressing deferred maintenance, delayed projects, and strained resources.
- Preparedness strategies to strengthen tribal resilience against future shutdowns.
- Advocacy priorities to protect tribal funding and fulfill federal trust responsibilities.
If you have any questions or need additional information, contact Nicholas Lovesee, Policy Director at nicholas@nafoa.org, or Marisa Joseph, Policy Specialist, at marisa@nafoa.org.
