U.S. Government Reopens After MSCI, Allies Ask Lawmakers To Support Funding Bill

On November 12, President Donald Trump signed a continuing resolution (CR) that ended the 43-day government shutdown that had halted most federal operations for the longest period in U.S. history. The move came after the U.S. House of Representatives approved the CR on a 222-209 vote and after the Senate gave its assent two days earlier.

The legislation provides funding for most federal agencies through Jan. 30, 2026. (Military construction, veterans’ affairs operations, the Department of Agriculture, and the legislative branch received full-year funding through Sept. 30, 2026.)

Fallout from the shutdown continues, however. For example, as readers may recall, the U.S. government had ceased issuing economic data during the shutdown. Last week, White House officials said they may never release employment and inflation data for October.

In advance of the House vote to reopen the government, the Metals Service Center Institute joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and dozens of other national and regional trade associations to send a letter to lawmakers asking that they end the stalemate. “We are now in the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. With each passing day the harm to American families, our communities, and economy grow, as do the risks to our security and safety,” the letter, which is available at this link, said. “We applaud those lawmakers who are working together across the aisle to identify a path forward and urge both chambers and political parties to immediately end the shutdown.”

Lawmakers will now have to work on a separate piece of spending legislation that would extend funding beyond Jan. 30, 2026 for the agencies that did not receive full-year funding from the CR. If they cannot reach an agreement on those matters, those agencies will cease operations on Jan. 31 until a funding deal can be reached.