DALLAS — After 43 days, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history has ended , offering relief to federal employees, Americans relying on SNAP benefits and air travelers who faced significant disruptions.

Snap benefits

SMU Political Science Professor Cal Jillson said 42 million Americans who depend on SNAP can expect payments to hit their EBT cards within about a week.

“It’ll vary from state to state,” Jillson said. But here in Texas, "they should be able then to turn the process back on and get that support to people fairly quickly.”

Jillson emphasized that many families live paycheck to paycheck, making the return of benefits critical.

Federal employee back pay

Federal employees who went unpaid during the shutdown will also receive back pay, included in the funding bill sign

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