AVMA News

Historic government shutdown ends, veterinary programs funded

Published on

Updated November 13, 2025

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history ended November 12 with President Donald Trump's signature on a short-term appropriations bill (HR 5371) following a 43-day standoff between the two political parties.

The bipartisan deal includes a continuing resolution (CR) that extends funding for most federal agencies at fiscal year (FY) 2025 levels through January 30, 2026, while a few departments, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), will receive full-year funding through September 30, 2026.

HR 5371 grants federal employees back pay and prohibits agencies from reducing full-time staff for the duration of the CR. Also, federal workers fired by the Trump administration since the shutdown began on October 1 are to be rehired.

U.S. capitol building
The short-term appropriations bill (HR 5371) to end the 43-day government shutdown extends most funding until January 30, 2026, but fully funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture for fiscal year 2026. 

On November 10, the Senate passed legislation that would reopen the federal government. Two days later, the U.S. House of Representatives voted for the package, which extends most funding until January 30, 2026, and fully funds the USDA for FY 2026. 

HR 5371 provides $203.4 billion in total funding for the USDA and Food and Drug Administration in the full-year appropriations bill, which covers discretionary and mandatory spending. Highlights related to veterinary medicine are as follows:

  • Extends most provisions of the 2018 Farm Bill—which were set to expire September 30—through September 30, 2026
  • Funds the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program, Veterinary Services Grant Program, and Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank at FY 2025 levels. That is $10 million, $4 million, and $2 million, respectively
  • Fully funds the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility
  • Includes a $15 million increase for the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service budget for State Meat and Poultry Inspection and Cooperative Interstate Shipment programs
  • Requires the USDA to report on its New World screwworm domestic readiness and response initiative
  • Earmarks $750,000 for Alaska Native Rural Veterinary Care; $1.9 million for the University of Georgia's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Pathological Waste Incinerator; $1 million for the development of a DVM program at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore; and $560,535 for a Mobile Veterinary Research and Training Laboratory at Utah State University

A version of this story appears in the January 2026 print issue of JAVMA