Trump: US Government Shutdown Cost $1.5 Trillion

On November 12th local time, US President Trump signed a temporary funding bill for the federal government passed by both houses of Congress at the White House, formally ending the government shutdown. During the signing ceremony, Trump stated that the US government shutdown cost $1.5 trillion, and it will take weeks or even months to fully calculate the overall impact of the losses.

At the signing ceremony, Trump also blamed the Democrats for causing the 43-day government shutdown, accusing them of seeking "hundreds of billions of dollars for illegal immigrants," which ultimately resulted in "massive damage" including flight delays, federal employees going without pay, and disruptions to food stamp distribution. He again criticized the Affordable Care Act, advocating instead for providing healthcare funds directly to individuals to choose their own insurance.

Trump simultaneously called for an end to the filibuster rule to prevent such events from happening again. He stated that the government must not shut down again. Trump thanked the Senate Democrats who "did the right thing," as well as the Congressional Republican leadership and various industry organizations for their support in the process of reopening the government.

Trump said that after the government reopens, he will continue to push for lowering living costs, restoring public safety, and promoting economic growth. He emphasized that his "Big & Beautiful" bill would bring the "largest tax cut in history," including measures such as "tax-free tips, tax-free social security, and tax-free overtime."

Earlier that day, the US House of Representatives finally passed a temporary federal government funding bill, previously passed by the Senate, with a vote of 222 in favor to 209 against. This bill will provide continuing appropriations to the federal government, funding most government agencies until January 30, 2026.