Following the conclusion of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, here are the top political events that occurred at the White House.
Certain Degree Fields Capped by Education Dept.
- On Nov. 7, the Department of Education’s Reimagining and Improving Student Education Committee reached a consensus on student loan changes to certain degree fields under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Here is a list of the degrees excluded from the “professional degree” list that may face reduced access to financial aid:
- Some nursing degrees
- Accounting
- Architecture
- Occupational therapy
- Physician assistants
- Social work
- Audiology
- Educators
The Government Shutdown Ends
- The government shutdown ended on Nov. 12, lasting 43 days. The government will be funded through Jan. 30, 2026.
- However, Democrats’ plan to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits has not been guaranteed in the new budget bill. The decision made by eight moderate Democrats has garnered a lot of public criticism, including censure from many Democratic Party legislators who opposed the bill.
SNAP Benefits Reinstated
- SNAP benefits were reinstated to recipients on Nov. 12, following the end of the government shutdown.
- U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins initially stated that recipients needed to reapply for SNAP benefits to combat “massive fraud.” However, the USDA later clarified that recipients would follow the standard recertification process.
- Recipients in states like California started receiving benefits in early November due to lawsuits filed against the Trump administration for not funding SNAP.
- The new budget bill includes funding for the USDA and SNAP through Sept. 30, 2026.
Jeffrey Epstein Files Timeline
- Approximately 23,000 pages of Epstein documents containing Trump’s name were released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee on Nov. 12.
- On Nov. 16, a video was released featuring eleven Epstein survivors holding photographs of their teenage selves. This public service announcement was produced by World Without Exploitation, an anti-human trafficking organization.
- On Nov. 19, Trump signed a bill ordering the release of the Epstein files.
Trump and Zohran Mamdani Meet
- Trump met with Mayor-elect of New York City Zohran Mamdani at the White House on Nov. 21. After months of trading political insults, the meeting in the Oval Office was ‘surprisingly cordial,’ per the BBC. Following the discussion centered on NYC affordability, Trump praised Mamdani several times to media reporters.
National Guard Ambush Attack
- On Nov. 26, two members of the West Virginia National Guard, Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, were shot in an ambush in Washington, D.C., two blocks away from the White House. Beckstrom has passed away, while Wolfe remains in critical condition. According to NBC Washington, the sole suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, will be charged with murder.