A large number of government employees have not been receiving paychecks amid the shutdown.
The government is set to reopen after President Donald Trump signed a funding bill approved by both chambers of Congress on Nov. 12.
Eight members of the Senate Democratic caucus and six Democratic representatives joined Republicans to pass the legislation.
“Our troops, air traffic controllers, and federal employees will be back to receiving their regular paychecks,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing ahead of the signing.
“Families in need will get back to receiving their food purchasing assistance, and the people’s government will soon be back open for business.”
Here’s what you need to know about how the government will reopen under this measure.
| 1. Food Stamps |
| 2. Flight Restrictions |
| 3. Back Pay |
| 4. Another Shutdown? |
Food Stamps
The approximately 42 million people enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) stopped receiving all or some benefits after October, as the Trump administration resisted tapping tariff revenue to fully fund food stamps for November.
The federal government spends approximately $9 billion per month on SNAP.
Contingency money previously set aside by Congress was used by the administration to partially fund November benefits, under orders from a federal judge. The Supreme Court blocked a different order that would have required the administration to use tariff revenue to fully fund the program.
The package signed by Trump appropriates $107.4 billion for SNAP, including $6 billion that will be placed in a contingency fund and only used “in such amounts and at such times as may become necessary to carry out program operations.”
Under the new package, most SNAP participants will receive food stamps within 24 hours, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in a statement.
Some states had already issued full benefits, following a memorandum from the department. When the agency attempted to order those states to reverse steps they had taken to issue full benefits, a federal judge blocked the directive.
“Now that the shutdown has come to an end, USDA must provide the necessary guidance to states to ensure every eligible family receives their full November SNAP benefits as quickly as possible,” Share Our Strength, an advocacy group, wrote on LinkedIn.
