Trump signs bill ending longest government shutdown in US history

US President Donald Trump has signed a government funding bill that ends a record 43-day government shutdown.

The US federal government shut down on October 1, after a deadlocked Congress failed to keep government programmes and services running by the required deadline.

Several government services have been impacted since, including vast numbers of federal workers not being paid.

The shutdown has also affected several services, including food benefits and US air travel.

The signing ceremony came just hours after the House passed the measure on a mostly party-line vote of 222-209.

The US Senate passed the bill on Monday before it headed to the House of Representatives.

Democrats wanted to extend an enhanced tax credit that lowers the cost of health coverage obtained through Affordable Care Act marketplaces and refused to go along with a spending bill that did not include that priority.

But Republicans said that was a separate policy fight to be held at another time, and they prevailed.

The signing ceremony came just hours after the House passed the measure. / Credit: AP images

The shutdown magnified divisions in Washington as Trump took unprecedented unilateral actions, which included trying to fire federal workers, to pressure Democrats into relenting on their demands.

Donald Trump blamed the situation on Democrats and suggested voters shouldn’t reward the party during next year’s midterm elections.

“So I just want to tell the American people, you should not forget this,” Trump said. “When we come up to midterms and other things, don’t forget what they’ve done to our country.”