Now that the government shutdown is over, what happens next and where do we go from here?

The funding bill signed to end the shutdown restores operations for most federal agencies through Jan. 30, 2026, with full-year funding for some programs. Some government services will return gradually and might still take weeks or months to get back to normalcy. And then, new deadlines are looming when the current funding deals through January expire, meaning Congress needs to pass longer-term appropriations to avoid another shutdown.

Shutdowns happen because of political decisions. Civic engagement helps shape those decisions. Civic engagement is about being involved, informed and willing to contribute to the common good. It’s about people working together to improve local and national decisions.

See Full Page