Is the U.S. Government Shutdown Over? Status Update for Today, November 15, 2025

Updated: November 15, 2025

As of today, Saturday, November 15, 2025, the U.S. federal government shutdown is over. Federal agencies are in the process of fully reopening, and hundreds of thousands of federal employees are back at work, although some services and payments are still catching up.

Below is a detailed look at the current status of the shutdown, what changed this week, and what’s happening on November 15, 2025.

Quick answer: Is there a government shutdown today (15.11.2025)?

No. There is no active federal government shutdown today.

Here’s what happened:

On November 10, the U.S. Senate passed a compromise funding bill to end the record-long shutdown and keep the government funded into 2026. ^[1]
On November 12, the House approved the package and President Donald Trump signed it into law late that night, formally ending the 43‑day shutdown — the longest in U.S. history. ^[2]
The legislation reopens the federal government and funds most agencies through January 30, 2026, with some departments receiving full‑year appropriations. ^[3]
The shutdown is officially recorded as running from October 1 to November 12, 2025 (43 days). ^[4]

Since Thursday, November 13, federal workers have been returning to their jobs, agencies are ramping up normal operations, and systems that were frozen during the shutdown are being restored. ^[5]

How the 2025 shutdown ended

The 2025 shutdown began at midnight on October 1, after Congress failed to pass spending bills or a continuing resolution for the new fiscal year. ^[6]

The key steps that ended it:

Senate deal
- The Senate passed a Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026, on November 10.
- The bill funds large portions of the federal government through January 30, 2026, and includes some full‑year appropriations for areas like military construction, Veterans Affairs, and parts of agriculture. ^[7]
House vote and final passage
- On November 12, the House approved the same package, with a vote of 222–209, sending it to the president’s desk. ^[8]
Trump’s signature
- President Trump signed the bill late on November 12, formally reopening the federal government and ending the record shutdown. ^[9]
What the deal did — and did not — include
- Did include:
  - Short‑term funding for most civilian agencies through January 30, 2026.
  - Full‑year funding for some areas including parts of the Pentagon and VA. ^[10]
- Did not include:
  - An extension of the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, which are still set to expire at the end of 2025, setting up another fight in December. ^[11]

So, the shutdown is over, but the underlying policy disputes — especially over health‑care subsidies — are not.

What’s happening now (November 15, 2025)?

With the federal government technically open, today’s news is less about “Is there a shutdown?” and more about how fast things are returning to normal — and where problems remain.

1. Federal workers are back, but still waiting on some pay

Roughly 1.4 million federal workers went without pay over the last six weeks, including both furloughed employees and those forced to work without paychecks. ^[12]
Agencies were told to bring furloughed employees back to work starting Thursday, November 13, and have begun reopening offices in an “orderly manner.” ^[13]
Back pay:
- The law guarantees back pay, but timelines differ by agency and payroll provider.
- Internal guidance and reporting suggest some workers will receive at least part of their back pay by early next week, while others may wait until the next regular pay cycle. ^[14]
In fresh reporting today, federal workers interviewed by local outlets say they’re relieved to be back on the job but still questioning whether the ordeal — missed rent, food bank lines, and mounting bills — was “worth it.” ^[15]

2. SNAP and food assistance: “SNAP is back,” but payments are catching up

The shutdown hit food assistance especially hard — November SNAP benefits were delayed or partially paid in many states.

Now that the shutdown has ended:

The funding bill fully funds SNAP through September 2026, ending the immediate threat that November benefits would be cut off entirely. ^[16]
USDA has directed states to “take immediate steps” to ensure households receive full November SNAP benefits, and to resume normal benefit levels. ^[17]
Axios reporting shows a patchwork of timelines:
- Some states (e.g., California, New York, New Mexico, New Jersey, Washington) have already finished issuing full November benefits.
- Others expect to complete payouts between November 14–20, while a handful of states have not yet announced firm dates but say they are “moving swiftly” now that federal funds are flowing again. ^[18]

At the local level, today’s coverage includes stories like a record turnout at a turkey giveaway in Paterson, New Jersey, where families who faced weeks of uncertainty about SNAP lined up for holiday food assistance — a vivid sign that the shutdown’s economic pain isn’t over just because the government is. ^[19]

3. Air travel: Flight cuts easing, but disruptions remain

Air travel was one of the most visible impacts of the shutdown, with air traffic controllers working without pay and the FAA imposing mandatory flight reductions at major airports.

Where things stand now:

The FAA has begun dialing back required flight cuts, citing improving staffing levels now that controllers are being paid again. ^[20]
A report today notes that mandatory reductions at 40 of the busiest U.S. airports have been lowered to around 3%, and some hubs — like Salt Lake City International — expect only a small number of cancellations on Saturday, November 15. ^[21]
Transportation officials caution that air travel will not snap back to normal overnight. Airlines need time to restore pre‑shutdown schedules and reposition aircraft and crews. Experts warn that some delays and cancellations could persist into the busy Thanksgiving period. ^[22]

4. National parks, museums and cultural sites: Reopening, but “picking up the pieces”

Smithsonian museums and other federally funded institutions have begun reopening on a rolling basis. Several flagship museums in Washington, D.C., reopened Friday, with more expected to open fully by early next week. ^[23]
National parks, many of which remained partially open but understaffed, now face months of cleanup and deferred maintenance after 43 days of limited services and lost fee revenue. Advocates warn that some damage and financial gaps may linger into next year. ^[24]

5. Markets and broader economy: Relief, but not reassurance

Financial and policy analysis published today emphasizes two key themes:

Short‑term relief: Markets are reacting positively to the end of the shutdown and the removal of immediate default or funding risks. Some coverage links the reopening to a stabilizing outlook for certain assets, including parts of the crypto market that had been volatile during the standoff. ^[25]
Long‑term unease: Commentators across outlets stress that the deal only funds the government through January 30, 2026, and leaves deep partisan divides intact. Opinion pieces describe the shutdown as “pointless” or “postponed rather than solved,” highlighting a broader “trust deficit” in U.S. governance. ^[26]

Why some coverage still sounds like the shutdown is ongoing

If you’re scrolling through news today, you might see mixed phrasing:

Some commentary pieces, especially opinion columns written close to the deal, refer to the government as having been shut down “for 45 days” or describe the shutdown as “nearing its end” while discussing the same funding bill that has now been signed. ^[27]
Older news items from earlier in the week — or event notices scheduled before the deal — still talk about an “ongoing shutdown,” even though those pieces haven’t been updated since the government reopened. ^[28]

The most up‑to‑date reporting from major wire services, public media, and official statements is clear:

The shutdown ended when the president signed the funding bill on November 12, and
Federal agencies began fully reopening on November 13. ^[29]

So while some effects of the shutdown are ongoing, there is no active shutdown today.

Key dates and deadlines to know

For quick reference:

October 1, 2025 – Federal government shuts down after appropriations lapse. ^[30]
November 10, 2025 – Senate passes compromise funding package to reopen the government and extend funding through January 30, 2026. ^[31]
November 12, 2025 – House passes the bill; President Trump signs it late that night, ending the 43‑day shutdown. ^[32]
November 13, 2025 – Federal agencies begin reopening; workers are called back; parks, museums, and airports start ramping up normal operations. ^[33]
Today — November 15, 2025 –
- No active shutdown.
- Many SNAP recipients are receiving delayed November benefits. ^[34]
- FAA has reduced required flight cuts; airports report far fewer cancellations. ^[35]
- Federal workers are back on the job, with back‑pay processing underway but not complete. ^[36]
January 30, 2026 – Current funding expires for most agencies, creating the possibility of another showdown if Congress doesn’t act before then. ^[37]

What to watch next

Although today’s headline answer is “yes, the shutdown is over”, a few big questions remain:

Will Congress extend ACA premium tax credits before December 31, 2025?
- These subsidies were not included in the shutdown-ending deal, and their fate will be decided in a separate December vote. ^[38]
How quickly will back pay and benefits be delivered?
- Federal employees, SNAP recipients, and other beneficiaries are still waiting to see how quickly agencies can unwind six weeks of disruption. ^[39]
Will this happen again in January?
- Because the new funding is temporary, analysts and advocates are already warning that without a broader budget agreement, the U.S. could face another shutdown threat early in 2026. ^[40]

FAQ: Government shutdown status today

Is the U.S. government shut down today, November 15, 2025?

No. The shutdown ended on November 12, 2025, when President Trump signed a bipartisan funding bill passed by Congress. ^[41]

Are federal workers back at work?

Yes. Agencies began recalling furloughed employees and restoring normal operations on November 13. Back pay is guaranteed by law, but payment dates vary by agency and payroll system. ^[42]

Are SNAP and other benefits running again?

Yes, but with delays. SNAP is funded through September 2026, and USDA has ordered states to issue full November benefits. Some states have already paid out in full; others are still catching up over the coming days. ^[43]

Why do some articles still say “during the government shutdown”?

Those pieces were written while the shutdown was ongoing or just as the deal was being finalized. The most current information from major outlets and official sources confirms that the shutdown is over and the government is open today. ^[44]

If you’re simply wondering “Is the government shutdown over today, 15.11.2025?” the clear, up‑to‑date answer is: