Government Shutdown Ends After 43 Days — What Comes Next?
Senate GOP and Democrats React as Congress Faces Big To-Do List, Schumer Demands Briefing on Trump’s Venezuela Military Plans
The 43-day U.S. federal government shutdown has officially ended, bringing relief to millions of Americans and reopening essential services. But inside the Capitol, the real work is only beginning. Senate GOP leaders held a press conference shortly after the shutdown ended, outlining their priorities for the weeks ahead and voicing concerns about how the situation unfolded.
Senator John Thune said the shutdown was “totally unnecessary” and argued that extending it any longer would have continued to “punish the American people.” He emphasized that despite major delays, Congress must now focus on restarting the appropriations process and moving key legislation that stalled during the shutdown.
Senate Pushes for Regular Appropriations — Not Another Omnibus
Sen. Thune reminded reporters that Congress had already passed three of the twelve major appropriations bills before the shutdown:
Military Construction–VA
Agriculture
Legislative Branch
Calling regular order “the best way to fund the government,” he warned against relying on year-long continuing resolutions or mega-sized omnibus packages written behind closed doors.
He stressed that the Senate has the defense appropriations bill ready to go, but Democrats blocked it during the shutdown. Now, GOP leaders want to quickly bundle several appropriations bills into a “mini-bus” and push them to the Senate floor.
Debate Over DOJ Files and Claims of ‘Weaponization’
During the press conference, Thune also addressed a growing political controversy involving the Justice Department collecting information on senators.
He accused DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith of violating laws that protect congressional independence. He said the Senate wants transparency, but any release of files must protect victims and follow legal standards, especially concerning grand jury material.
Republicans say they are determined to stop what they call “weaponization of the federal government,” while Democrats argue the DOJ was simply enforcing the law.
AI Regulation and State Authority — A New Flashpoint
Artificial intelligence was another major topic. Lawmakers are debating whether states should regulate AI independently or if federal rules should override state laws to protect interstate commerce.
Thune said AI regulation will “explode” in importance and noted that the issue is currently being discussed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Senate is reviewing proposals to balance state rights with national economic interests.
What Happens Next?
With the shutdown ended, Congress now faces a tight timeline to:
Pass remaining appropriations bills
Debate AI regulation
Decide on DOJ file transparency
Advance Russia sanctions
Review potential military actions abroad
