Government reopens as workers await back pay | JQJO

President Trump signed a bill ending the longest U.S. government shutdown, reopening agencies after 43 days. Federal workers are returning Thursday, with back pay guaranteed but deposits varying by agency; travel disruptions may linger. Longer fallout looms, from national parks’ lost revenue to IRS refund delays, and funding only runs through Jan. 30. The measure reverses staffing cuts and blocks layoffs through January. SNAP is funded through September 2026, restarting amid uneven state payments after a Supreme Court pause. Smithsonian museums will reopen gradually, with three opening Friday and the rest by Monday.