Government Shutdown Ends as NFIP Retroactively Reauthorized

By: Raaed Haddad
November 13, 2025

The longest federal government shutdown in history is finally over. After 43 days, Congress passed a funding package through a continuing resolution (CR) that funds the federal government through Jan. 30, 2026.

Earlier this week, eight Democrats joined with 52 Republicans to approve the package in the U.S. Senate. Their support came with a guarantee from Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) that the Senate would hold a separate vote on extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of December.

Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives took up the Senate-passed CR and approved it with a vote of 222-209, with six Democrats joining all but two Republicans to vote in favor of the package.

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The CR includes a retroactive reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for the period that the program lapsed. This is the 34th short-term reauthorization of the NFIP since 2017.

The Big “I” worked with Congress to ensure the NFIP was retroactively reauthorized, allowing Write-Your-Own companies to renew policies back to the day the program lapsed, instead of the day it was reauthorized.

The record-long shutdown and lapse in NFIP authority have significantly increased awareness among lawmakers and stakeholders about the need to pass a long-term reauthorization of the program, including the need for significant reforms and modernization, such as continuous coverage.

The Big “I” will continue to work with Congress as they consider reforming the NFIP and will continue to update members through the News & Views e-newsletters.

Raaed Haddad is Big “I” director of federal government affairs.