The U.S. government is set to resume operations on Thursday after the longest shutdown in American history left air traffic disrupted, food aid suspended for low-income families, and more than one million federal workers unpaid for over a month.
Despite the reopening, the deep political fractures that caused the 43-day impasse remain unresolved. The funding agreement offers few limits on President Donald Trump’s control over spending, continuing tensions with Congress over budget authority. It also sidesteps the expiring health care subsidies that initially pushed Senate Democrats to block the earlier budget proposal.
The shutdown exposed sharp divides within the Democratic Party as well — between progressives demanding stronger opposition to Trump and moderates wary of overreach while Republicans maintain control of both chambers. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer now faces mounting criticism, even though he voted against the final deal.
Around 1.4 million federal employees who worked without pay are expected to receive back wages starting Saturday, with full payments due by Wednesday, according to the White House. Trump’s team had earlier threatened to withhold pay for some categories of workers, but there was no indication that it will do so.
“I’m happy to see all my coworkers again. I brought in some pastries so we can enjoy our first day back,” said Stanley Stocker, an Interior Department employee returning to work.
Although Trump fired several thousand federal employees during the shutdown, the funding bill ensures their reinstatement, requiring agencies to reverse dismissals within five days.
Public opinion shows neither side escaped blame. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found 50% of Americans held Republicans responsible for the shutdown, while 47% blamed Democrats.
The reopening may prove short-lived: the new deal only funds the government until 30 January, raising fears of another standoff early next year.
Amid all the political turmoil, one topic was notably absent — discussion of the $38 trillion national debt, which remains on track to grow by about $1.8 trillion annually, as Congress once again postponed tough fiscal decisions.
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The White House says deploying United States ground troops in Iran is not currently part of the military strategy in the ongoing conflict with Tehran.
A U.S. submarine strike sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, leaving at least 80 dead, the country’s deputy foreign minister said. Meanwhile, Iran postponed the funeral of its late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to state media.
The U.S. Department of Defense has released a video of a submarine strike on an Iranian warship off the southern Sri Lankan coast. At least 80 people died in the U.S. attack on the vessel, Sri Lanka's Deputy Foreign Minister said.
At least 30,000 displaced people have sought protection in shelters across Lebanon following an escalation in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, the United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday, and added that many more were expected to join them.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military has enough stockpiled weapons to fight wars "forever"; in a social media post late on Monday. The remarks came hours before conflict in Iran and the Middle East entered its fourth day.
U.S. first lady, Melania Trump chaired a UN Security Council meeting on children and education in conflict on Monday (2 March), a move criticised by Iran as hypocritical following U.S. and Israeli strikes that triggered a UN warning about risks to children.
A torpedo from a U.S. submarine sunk an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth told reporters as the Iranian conflcit entered its fifth day on Wednesday.
The U.S. embassy in Riyadh was hit by two drones resulting in a limited fire and some material damage, the kingdom's defence ministry said in a post on X on Tuesday, citing an initial assessment.
Shahid Motahari Sub-Speciality Hospital in northern Tehran and parts of the Golestan Palace were bombed on day two of the U.S.‑Israel strikes. AnewZ Touraj Shiralilou is in Iran's capital city and said that the facility was flattened in an airstrike.
Israel has warned residents to leave a significant area in southern Lebanon, instructing them to move north of the Litani River as hostilities with the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah intensified on Wednesday.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the United States is making gains in its conflict with Iran after a key Iranian naval target was destroyed, confirming that the strike was carried out by a U.S. submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka. Rescue efforts are now under way for the ship’s crew.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 4th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Strikes across the Middle East are intensifying, fuelling travel disruption, driving up global energy prices and forcing diplomatic missions to shut their doors.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said the United States has a “virtually unlimited supply” of munitions and is capable of sustaining military action indefinitely, as the conflict with Iran entered its fourth day.
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