Trump Signs Bill Ending Longest Government Shutdown — Texas Feels the Aftershocks

November 13, 2025 – President Donald Trump late Wednesday night signed a bipartisan funding bill to officially end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, restoring operations after weeks of uncertainty that left millions of Americans — including many Texans — in limbo.

The 41-day shutdown, which halted large portions of the federal government, had deep effects across Texas. Roughly 150,000 federal employees in the state either missed paychecks or were furloughed. Airports in Dallas, Houston, and Austin reported flight delays as TSA staffing thinned, while farmers and ranchers struggled with delayed loan and crop support payments.

Perhaps the hardest hit were low-income Texans who depend on federal nutrition programs. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) had been operating on emergency reserves, forcing grocery retailers and families to brace for benefit interruptions. Now, federal agencies say full benefits will resume within days.

Texas Head Start centers and housing assistance programs that had closed or cut services are expected to reopen by early next week, though local agencies warn it may take time to recover.

While the shutdown’s end brings relief, economists caution that the ripple effects — from delayed contracts to consumer spending slowdowns — may linger for months, especially in Texas’ federal employment hubs and rural communities dependent on federal aid.