The U.S. House of Representatives passed the necessary legislation on Wednesday to end the longest government shutdown in the nation’s history. The bill now moves to President Donald Trump for his signature, which will officially allow the federal government to fully reopen.
The successful vote came after the House reconvened following a recess that began in mid-September. The action followed the Senate’s passage of the same amendment on Monday.
What is H.R. 5371?
H.R. 5371, officially titled the “Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026,” is a crucial legislative measure designed to immediately end the government shutdown that went into effect on October 1, 2025.
The Bill functions primarily as a Continuing Resolution (CR) and ensures federal funding through a staggered approach:
1. Continuing Appropriations (Short-Term Funding)
- The bill provides continuing Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations for most federal agencies through the earlier of January 30, 2026, or the date the applicable, full appropriations act is enacted.
- Through this CR, most programs and activities are funded at their FY2025 levels, with certain exceptions that allow for funding flexibility and additional allocations for various programs.
2. Full-Year Appropriations (End of FY26)
The bill also includes regular FY2026 appropriation bills that provide funding through the end of the fiscal year (FY26) for several critical agencies and activities, including:
- The Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Department of Defense military construction and family housing activities.
- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
- Congress and the agencies that support the Legislative Branch.
- Several related and independent agencies.
3. Federal Worker Protections
To address the hardship faced by federal employees during the 43-day shutdown, the Bill mandates several key protections:
- It guarantees back pay to all federal workers who did not receive their salaries during the shutdown period.
- It prohibits agencies from taking action related to a reduction in force (RIF) through January 30, 2026.
- It specifically makes null and void any RIFs that federal agencies may have implemented between October 1, 2025, and the date of the bill’s enactment.
4. Program and Authority Extensions
Finally, H.R. 5371 extends several expiring authorities and programs across various sectors, including those related to:
- Public health, Medicare, and Medicaid.
- Cybersecurity.
- Agriculture.
- Food and Drug Administration user fees.
- Veterans benefits.
- Actions to mitigate threats from unmanned aircraft systems (drones).
- The Defense Production Act of 1950.
With the bill now passed and ready for the President’s signature, the federal government is expected to begin reopening immediately, finally concluding the prolonged political standoff.