| President Donald Trump announced Friday afternoon that he will sign a short-term spending bill to reopen the federal government through February 15, ending the longest shutdown in U.S. history.  | The three-week deal doesn't include any funding for a border wall but gives more time for negotiations, while bringing federal employees back to work with back-pay.
| | While most big-ticket healthcare programs operated by HHS and CMS had already been funded, the shutdown affected the FDA and Indian Health Service.
| | The shutdown had also posed challenges for healthcare-related litigation involving the Department of Justice, including an appeal over the Affordable Care Act's constitutionality.
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The announcement came as furloughed federal workers reached their second consecutive payday without a paycheck, putting a strain not only on their personal finances but also on the businesses that serve them. | 
