The shutdown, which began on October 1, left hundreds of thousands of federal workers without pay and disrupted vital public services, including food aid, airport operations, and national parks.

The House of Representatives approved the bill in a narrow 222–209 vote, with six Democrats joining Republicans in support. It followed the Senate’s passage of the same bill earlier in the week.

The new funding measure restores operations across all federal agencies, ensures back pay for affected employees, and funds key programs such as the Department of Agriculture, veterans affairs, and SNAP food aid. It also includes new legal provisions protecting senators’ phone records and rolling back the legalization of hemp-derived THC products.

While the deal provides much-needed relief to millions, it fell short of Democratic goals to extend health insurance subsidies for low-income Americans. Lawmakers plan to revisit that issue in December.

Speaking from the Oval Office, President Trump declared, “The country has never been in better shape,” and urged Americans not to forget the shutdown when voting in the 2026 midterm elections. He accused Democrats of “political extortion” for triggering the shutdown over healthcare subsidies.

Republicans hailed the vote as a victory, while Democrats expressed disappointment, calling the compromise “a surrender.” Speaker of the House Mike Johnson described the shutdown as “utterly pointless,” saying, “Millions of families went without food on their tables—it was a game played with real people’s lives.”

As the government reopens, federal workers are returning to their posts, and agencies are resuming services. National parks, airports, and public programs are expected to normalize over the coming days, though some assistance programs like heating aid and early education services may take weeks to fully recover.

Despite the political drama, many in Washington expressed relief that the standoff had ended. Lawmakers from both parties were seen smiling and shaking hands after the vote, closing a turbulent chapter in American politics.

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The legislation was introduced by Republican Congressman Greg Steube. He accuses South Africa of using international legal platforms to attack Israel and claims the country’s foreign policy has taken an aggressive turn, targeting US allies and supporting groups considered by the US to be terrorist organizations.

Steube directly tied the bill to South Africa’s recent legal case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accused the country of genocide in its military actions in Gaza. He also criticized South Africa for hosting Hamas delegations and signing an oil-related cooperation agreement with Iran.

If passed, the bill would stop most forms of direct US aid to South Africa—except for humanitarian and public health assistance—until Pretoria meets several conditions. These include halting all legal efforts against Israel, reforming its political institutions to address corruption, and strengthening cooperation with the US.

The proposed legislation also allows the US president to impose personal sanctions on South African officials who are seen as promoting antisemitic policies or misusing international courts for political purposes.

Some observers believe the bill is unlikely to pass in its current form, but they warn that it could still have real diplomatic consequences. According to political analyst Siseko Maposa, this bill represents a significant escalation in pressure on South Africa, particularly from the US political right.

Maposa highlighted South Africa’s long-standing ties with the US, noting that the country received around $6 billion in American investment between 2012 and 2021, in addition to substantial development assistance.

He also pointed out the political dynamics in the US, where internal divisions among Republicans might make it difficult to pass such a sweeping bill. Moderate lawmakers may be less inclined to support it, especially if they view the conflation of criticism of Israel with antisemitism as an attack on free speech.

South Africa has not yet issued a formal government response to the bill. However, officials have consistently defended the ICJ case, saying it reflects the country’s legal and moral obligations under international law. Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor has repeatedly stressed that South Africa’s actions are motivated by a desire for justice and accountability, especially in light of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The bill paints a different picture, accusing South Africa of turning a blind eye to violence committed by Hamas and Iran while growing closer to authoritarian regimes. It also criticizes South Africa’s ruling party, the ANC, for what it calls legitimizing extremist actors.

The country’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, is expected to comment on the potential fallout. In the past, the party has argued that the ANC’s foreign policy approach is alienating important Western allies.

Officials from South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation have confirmed that they are closely monitoring the bill. They emphasized that while every country has the right to legislate independently, South Africa is engaging through diplomatic channels to track developments in Washington.

Regarding lobbying and influence in the US, officials acknowledged the role of political pressure from groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which is known for funding candidates who support strong US-Israel relations.

South African authorities insist that their foreign policy is non-aligned and rooted in national interest. Justice Minister Ronald Lamola has affirmed that the country’s approach is not driven by hostility toward any nation, but by a firm commitment to international law and human rights.

South Africa’s relationship with Iran, for instance, has been framed as part of a broader strategy of global engagement. Officials say the country supports peaceful nuclear development and remains committed to preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

They also reiterated that the ICJ case is not politically motivated. Rather, it reflects South Africa’s belief in a rules-based global system where all countries—regardless of size or power—must be held accountable under international law.

At this stage, it remains uncertain whether the US Congress will move forward with the bill. But tensions are clearly growing between Washington and Pretoria, with broader geopolitical implications, especially as South Africa continues to play a key role in alliances like BRICS and maintain relationships with countries the US considers adversarial.

No official comment has yet been received from either the ANC or the DA. However, diplomatic and political responses are expected in the days ahead as South Africa weighs how best to respond to this potential challenge to its sovereignty and international stance.

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For weeks, tension had been building behind the scenes. Musk, never one to stay quiet, had begun openly criticizing Trump’s cornerstone legislation a massive spending bill designed to reshape government priorities. He wasn’t just tweeting from the sidelines either. Musk actively lobbied against it, calling it wasteful and short-sighted.

Trump, meanwhile, kept things relatively quiet—until Thursday. In a meeting with Germany’s Chancellor in the Oval Office, he let loose. The President admitted feeling “very disappointed” in Musk, who had once been given a prime role in his administration. That comment was just the spark.

What followed was a digital slugfest.

On X (formerly Twitter), Musk went nuclear—hinting, without proof, that Trump might be tied to unreleased files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The insinuation was bold. Trump hit back harder, accusing Musk of going “crazy” and revealing he was asked to leave the administration. He even threatened to strip Musk’s companies of their lucrative government contracts.

The fallout was immediate. Tesla’s stock tanked—dropping 14% and pushing the company’s market value below $1 trillion. Musk, who had threatened to shut down a crucial SpaceX spacecraft used by NASA, quietly reversed that decision hours later.

It was a messy end to a relationship that once looked like a powerful alliance.

From Power Duo to Political Enemies: A Timeline in Pictures

Just months ago, Musk and Trump were side-by-side, smiling onstage at rallies, celebrating wins, and even trading gifts.

October 2024: Musk appears at a Trump campaign rally, raising his fist next to the president.

December 2024: The two laugh together at the Army-Navy football game with Vice President JD Vance.

January 2025: Musk joins Trump at his second inauguration, mingling with other tech leaders.

March 2025: Musk wears a “Trump Was Right About Everything!” hat at a White House cabinet meeting.

Last Week: Trump gives Musk a golden key to thank him for his service in the government’s new “Department of Government Efficiency” — a satirical-sounding but very real agency known as “Doge.”

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