The longest US government shutdown in history is ending after more than six weeks of political deadlock. The House of Representatives passed a funding bill that will restart government operations through January, ending a 42-day halt that left hundreds of thousands of workers without pay and disrupted key public services. The bill, negotiated between Republican leaders and a small group of moderate Democratic senators, was approved by a vote of 222 to 209. The Senate passed the same measure earlier in the week. President Donald Trump is expected to sign it Wednesday night, allowing federal offices and agencies to reopen on Thursday morning. The new deal will fund government activities until late January but does not include the healthcare subsidies that Democrats had demanded. Those subsidies, linked to the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare, helped millions of Americans pay for health insurance. Their expiration led to higher premiums for many policyholders in November. Republicans celebrated the passage of the bill as a major victory. Party leaders said the shutdown, which began on October 1, was caused by Democratic resistance to a funding plan that excluded healthcare provisions. They praised the new deal as a way to bring stability back to federal operations. Democrats, however, accused the White House and Republican lawmakers of causing unnecessary hardship to federal workers and families across the country. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said the party would continue fighting for healthcare subsidies, warning that the issue would return when funding expires in January. “This fight is not over,” Jeffries said during a speech in the House chamber. “We will keep pushing until the Affordable Care Act tax credits are restored for working families.” During the 42-day shutdown, about 700,000 government employees were furloughed. Many others, including airport security staff, law enforcement officers, and members of the military, continued working without pay. Food banks across the nation saw rising demand as paychecks stopped and food stamp payments were delayed. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ordered a reduction in flights nationwide last week, citing unpaid air traffic controllers under extreme stress. The move caused major delays and cancellations at airports across the country. In addition, funding for several infrastructure projects was halted. The White House also reduced budgets for programs in states that voted against Trump in the last election. These actions deepened the economic and social effects of the shutdown. The shutdown became one of the most intense political battles between Republicans and Democrats since Trump’s return to the White House earlier this year. Democrats had tied their support for a funding bill to the continuation of Obamacare tax credits. Republicans, controlling both chambers of Congress, refused to include the measure, leading to the funding lapse. The stalemate broke after moderate Democrats in the Senate worked with Republican leaders to find a temporary compromise. The final deal allows the government to operate until January and reverses layoffs that occurred during the shutdown. However, it delays any vote on healthcare funding until mid-December, leaving the issue unresolved. Experts predict that the cost of health insurance plans could rise by an average of 25% if the tax credits are not extended soon. For many middle- and low-income families, these increases could make coverage unaffordable. With another funding deadline approaching at the end of January, both parties face renewed pressure to reach a long-term agreement. Democrats are expected to push again for healthcare subsidies, while Republicans aim to avoid another shutdown during an election year. For now, government offices are preparing to reopen, and workers are expected to receive back pay within the next few days. But with healthcare funding still uncertain, the debate that shut down Washington for 42 days is far from over.