Multiple federal agencies are directing employees to return to work after the government shutdown concluded, with back pay and museum reopenings also underway.
Following the end of the government shutdown , multiple federal agencies have instructed their employees to return to their workplaces. This directive was issued prior to President Donald Trump signing the bill that officially ended the shutdown, signaling a swift return to normalcy for government operations.
News sources reported that agencies like the Health and Human Services Department, Department of the Interior, Housing and Urban Development Department, and Department of Justice had already informed their workers to report for duty on Thursday. Emails circulated among employees reflected the urgency of the situation, with some explicitly mentioning the “Democratic shutdown,” reflecting the partisan tensions that characterized the period of government closure. The State Department, in an email issued Wednesday evening, also directed its staff to return to work, citing the passage of a short-term government funding bill, known as a continuing resolution. Jason S. Evans, an undersecretary for management at the State Department, expressed optimism in an email obtained by NBC News, stating, “Now that a CR has been enacted, we can all continue the critical work of advancing our national interests on behalf of the American people.”\The prolonged government shutdown, lasting 43 days, concluded with a 222 to 209 vote in favor of reopening the government, marking the longest shutdown in American history. The legislation to reopen the federal government secured back pay for furloughed workers and provided protection against further reductions-in-force until the end of January. While the exact timing of back pay distribution and paycheck resumption remained uncertain, the White House urged federal agencies to process payments “expeditiously and accurately.” Projections indicated a staggered rollout of back pay, with employees at agencies like the General Services Administration, Office of Personnel Management, and the departments of Energy, Health and Human Services, and Veterans Affairs potentially receiving their checks as early as the weekend. Other departments, including Education, State, Interior, Transportation, and agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, and the Social Security Administration, were expected to receive their back pay by Monday. Further, it was suggested that several other departments, including Agriculture, Commerce, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Treasury, and the Department of Justice, could expect their payments by the middle of the following week. This phased approach aimed to ensure efficient and orderly processing of back pay for the thousands of federal employees impacted by the shutdown.\The impact of the shutdown extended beyond government operations, with several institutions and services preparing to resume normal activities. The Smithsonian, for instance, announced the reopening of several museums, including the Museum of American History, the National Air and Space Museum, and its annex in Virginia, housing planes and space artifacts. Other museums and the National Zoo were scheduled to reopen on a “rolling basis by Monday.” This coordinated effort to restore services reflected a broader push to re-establish routines and provide the public with access to government resources and cultural institutions. News reports featured interviews with federal workers and business owners in Washington D.C., capturing the mood of a community impacted by the shutdown and the relief associated with the return to normal operations. The return to work and the reopening of facilities signified a move toward normalcy, providing a sense of stability for federal employees, the surrounding businesses, and the broader community impacted by the shutdown
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Federal agencies tell staff to return to work on Thursday as government reopensMonica Alba is a White House correspondent for NBC News.
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Federal Agencies Instruct Employees to Return to Work Following Government ShutdownMultiple federal agencies, including Health and Human Services, Interior, Housing and Urban Development, and Justice, have instructed employees to return to work on Thursday following the end of the government shutdown. The legislation signed by President Trump reopens the government after a 43-day closure, the longest in US history, and provides back pay for furloughed workers.
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Government shutdown live updates as federal agencies begin to reopenThe longest government shutdown in modern U.S. history came to a close Wednesday night when President Trump signed a bill to fund the government through Jan. 30, ending the 43-day-long impasse.
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Federal agencies tell staff to return to work Thursday as government reopensMonica Alba is a White House correspondent for NBC News.
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Federal services, agencies slowly returning after government shutdown endsSome furloughed federal employees were told to 'report for duty' on Thursday.
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Federal Government Reopens After Longest Shutdown in HistoryPresident Trump signs funding bill, ending the 43-day federal government shutdown. Federal agencies and services are expected to return to normal, with some benefits delayed. The bill funds the government until January 30, 2026, while some agencies are funded through the fiscal year's end. Over 670,000 federal employees were furloughed, with immediate return to work expected. Essential workers worked without pay, and all federal workers are entitled to back pay under the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019.
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