On November 13, 2025, President Donald Trump signed into law a funding bill passed by the U.S. House to end the 43-day federal government shutdown. The measure fully funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Veterans Affairs, military construction projects, and congressional operations through the end of Fiscal Year 2026, while providing short-term funding for all other federal agencies through January 30, 2026.
The President's action followed successful passage in the U.S. House of Representatives on November 12, following Senate passage earlier in the week. Eight Democrats joined Republicans to pass the bill out of the U.S. Senate.
What’s in the Funding Bill
The package combines a short-term continuing resolution through January 30 with three full-year appropriations bills covering military construction and veterans affairs, the legislative branch, and the Department of Agriculture.
Key provisions include:
- $203.5 million in new funding to strengthen security and protection for members of Congress.
- $852 million for the U.S. Capitol Police.
- Retroactive pay for all federal employees affected by the shutdown.
The legislation does not include a guarantee to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, which have been central to recent negotiations. Instead, lawmakers agreed to hold a future Senate vote on that issue.
Behind the scenes, several Senate Democrats who supported the deal cited President Trump’s increasing opposition to the subsidy extension as a driving factor in reaching a compromise to end the shutdown.
The funding bill includes a significant and controversial hemp provision that fundamentally alters how hemp and hemp-derived products will be regulated. Under this new legislation, which was tucked into the spending package ending the government shutdown, the definition of “legal hemp” is tightened: from one year after enactment the permitted amount of THC in a hemp product will be capped at 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container, and no products may contain cannabinoids that are synthesized or “have similar effects (or are marketed as having similar effects)” to THC. In effect, many consumable hemp products—such as edibles, drinks, vapes and topicals that were previously legal under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (which allowed hemp with up to 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight)—would now fall outside the definition of “hemp” and be treated as controlled substances. Industry analysts warn this change threatens a large segment of the hemp-derived cannabinoids market and will require reformulation or exit for many businesses.
Why It Matters for Counties
A prolonged federal government shutdown has ripple effects across all levels of government — including counties, which rely on consistent federal funding and program operations to serve residents. Many county-administered or county-supported services depend on federal appropriations, such as:
- Human services and nutrition programs: Continued funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ensures food assistance remains available for vulnerable populations, reducing the burden on local food banks and county social service agencies.
- Infrastructure and capital projects: Federal delays can stall reimbursement payments or grant awards tied to transportation, broadband, and water infrastructure initiatives.
- Public safety and emergency services: County emergency management, law enforcement, and veterans programs often coordinate with federal partners whose operations can be disrupted during shutdowns.
- Workforce and administrative stability: Many counties host federal offices or employ residents affected by federal furloughs, influencing local economies and tax bases.
Restoring government operations allows intergovernmental collaboration to resume, ensures stability for federally funded programs, and provides counties with greater predictability as they plan budgets and deliver essential services to their communities.