Translated by Aurora Forlivesi
Introduction
The United States government is no stranger to shutdowns. Unfortunately, this is not a one-time event or an isolated occurrence in time and space, but rather a troubling habit to which American politics and society have long grown accustomed.
The “history” of shutdowns is actually a fairly recent one. It began in 1976, during the Republican presidency of Gerald Ford, who vetoed a congressional spending bill for the Department of Labor and the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.
Since that first case, a period of shutdowns has begun, all characteristic of American political life, which over the past forty years has experienced another twenty.
From Ronald Reagan to Bill Clinton, these government crises generally did not last more than five days, with a record set in 2013 during the Democratic presidency of Barack Obama. From October 1 to October 17 of that year—a full sixteen days—Republicans forced a government shutdown due to their opposition and pressure to dismantle key parts of Obamacare.
Yet Another Shutdown
However, this record was broken once again last October, when U.S. government agencies closed their doors, marking—under President Donald Trump—the longest shutdown in American history. After more than a month, a solution now seems to have been reached.
When we talk about a shutdown, we mean the suspension of administrative activities carried out by federal agencies, which no longer receive funding from Congress. In such cases, only essential services—such as healthcare, public safety, and justice—remain operational. For the remaining public-sector workers, however, it is a particularly unpleasant situation, as most of them stay home on unpaid leave during this interruption.
In October 2025, under President Trump, yet another shutdown in American history began due to a deadlock between Republicans and the Democratic opposition over the congressional budget.
Once again, the clash centered on funding for a series of health-related measures: the Democratic proposal to extend Obamacare subsidies was rejected by the Republican wing. Later, with a 55-to-45 vote, the Democrats blocked the Republican bill to keep the federal government open, triggering a shutdown that has now lasted for over 40 days.
The consequences have been significant: many workers were forced into unpaid leave or had to go to work without pay; a 10% cut in flights was imposed due to a lack of airport control personnel, and thousands of people from the most disadvantaged classes were left without food assistance.
The End?
Yet, after weeks of chaos, shortages, and significant consequences, a glimmer of hope seems to be emerging in recent days. The crisis now appears to be moving toward a resolution. After weeks of deadlock and frantic negotiations between the White House and Congress, a provisional agreement was reached on Wednesday, November 12, allowing the federal government to reopen. The deal, approved by a majority in both chambers (222 in favor, 209 against), provides for the temporary refinancing of public agencies and the establishment of a permanent negotiating table on the health measures at the center of the dispute.
The compromise reached represents only a partial victory for both sides: the Democrats managed to preserve much of the Obamacare subsidies, while the Republicans secured guarantees on spending review and stricter oversight of health funding. But beyond the individual points, what matters most is the reopening of the government and the return to normalcy for millions of citizens and workers.
The longest shutdown in American history thus ends with a bitter lesson: the price of political paralysis is always paid by those left outside the halls of power. Now, with the government operational again, it remains to be seen whether this agreement will mark the beginning of a more stable dialogue or merely a truce before the next clash.