What Happens Now That Government Shutdown Is Over

November 14, 2025

President Trump signed a short-term funding measure that ended a government shutdown lasting over 42 days, allowing federal operations to restart and employees to return to work. The extended closure created substantial backlogs across multiple agencies, including unprocessed tax documents at the IRS, depleted air traffic controller staffing at the FAA, and suspended food safety inspections at the FDA. Although furloughed and unpaid workers are guaranteed back pay, processing delays may extend their financial hardship for additional days or weeks.

Who is affected

Approximately 1.4 million federal employees (furloughed or working without pay)
Air traffic controllers (younger ones who quit, older ones who retired early)
IRS workers facing mail and tax return backlogs
FDA employees restarting testing labs and inspections
NASA engineers returning to shuttered facilities
National Park Service staff dealing with cleanup
HR staff who were furloughed or laid off
Millions of Americans relying on food stamps (SNAP) and energy assistance programs
Federal Reserve and businesses needing employment and economic growth data
USDA employees and other federal workers considering leaving government employment

What action is being taken

The government is resuming operations
Federal workers are returning to work
Agencies are processing back pay for employees
Some states are issuing SNAP benefits

Why it matters

This matters because the historic 42-day shutdown created extensive operational disruptions across critical government services affecting public safety, economic monitoring, and social support systems. The staffing losses at agencies like the FAA pose ongoing safety concerns for air travel, while backlogs at the IRS and FDA will take considerable time to resolve. The shutdown's impact extends beyond government operations to millions of Americans who depend on federal assistance programs, and the lack of completed economic reports creates information gaps that hinder sound policy and business decisions. Most significantly, the short-term nature of the funding solution (only through January) means another shutdown could occur soon, perpetuating instability and driving experienced federal workers to leave government service, which could have long-term consequences for government effectiveness.

What's next

Back pay processing will take several days or longer
States will continue issuing SNAP benefits over the coming days to week
Another potential government shutdown could occur after January 30 when the current funding expires

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle