Government Shutdown Ends After 43 Days; Military Back Pay Disbursed Under 2019 Law

President Donald Trump signed a continuing resolution on November 12, 2025, ending the 43-day government shutdown — the second-longest in U.S. history after the 35-day 2018-2019 shutdown. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 (S.24) automatically triggered back pay for all affected federal workers, including the 2.1 million military service members who had gone without pay since October 1. DFAS began processing back pay within two business days of the shutdown's end. Service members received retroactive pay for the entire 43-day period but received no interest on the delayed wages. USAA reported that its 133,000 military members who had taken emergency loans during the shutdown collectively owed $466 million, which they began repaying from their restored pay. The shutdown cost the federal economy an estimated $15 billion in lost productivity, according to the Office of Management and Budget.