US Government Enters Partial Shutdown: What Triggered It And How Long It May Last

Last Updated:January 31, 2026, 14:04 IST

The shutdown could end quickly with minimal disruption if the House passes the Senate’s funding deal once lawmakers return to Washington on Monday.

The US government on Saturday entered a partial shutdown after Congress missed a midnight Friday deadline to approve funding for several key federal departments. (REUTERS)

The US government on Saturday entered a partial shutdown after Congress missed a midnight Friday deadline to approve funding for several key federal departments, forcing operations to halt or slow across wide parts of Washington’s bureaucracy.

The shutdown began after the Senate passed a revised spending package late Friday but the House, which is in recess until Monday, was unable to vote in time. The delay stems from a political standoff over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), where Democrats have demanded new limits on immigration enforcement following two fatal shootings by federal officers in Minneapolis.

Why Has The US Government Partially Shut Down?

The US government cannot legally spend money without annual approval from Congress. Each year, lawmakers must pass 12 separate bills to fund different parts of the federal government. If those bills are not approved in time, the affected departments simply run out of money and must stop normal operations.

Six funding bills have already been approved by the Congress and even passed by President Donald Trump. But six others were still pending.

Lawmakers had been close to finalising a $1.3 trillion package to fund all six together. In fact, the House had already passed a version that included all six outstanding bills. But the process collapsed when Senate Democrats withdrew support for the DHS portion after a second US citizen was killed by immigration officers in Minnesota. Democrats said they would not support any package that funded DHS unless reforms were introduced to curb what they described as excessive or unsafe enforcement practices.

Because of this, Senate leaders and the White House negotiated a new plan: instead of advancing all six bills, the Senate would move ahead with five of them and handle DHS separately.

Late Friday, the Senate voted 71–29 to approve five of the six outstanding bills, funding them through September. DHS was split out and given only a two-week extension at current funding levels to allow further negotiations on immigration reforms.

But this restructuring meant the House needed to vote again, even though it had previously passed all six. Since the House had already left Washington for the weekend, it was unable to take up the new version in time. As a result, the government crossed the deadline without approved funding.

Why Did The Homeland Security Dispute Break The Deal?

The Department of Homeland Security became the centre of a political fight after immigration officers shot and killed two US citizens — first Renee Good, then Alex Pretti — in Minneapolis.

Democrats said they would not support new DHS funding without reforms they believe are necessary to address unsafe or unregulated practices.

Their demands include:

• Mandatory body cameras for immigration officers
• A ban on masks or face coverings during operations
• Clearer identification requirements
• A uniform code of conduct and use-of-force rules
• Stricter warrants for entering homes
• An end to broad “roving patrols"
• Independent investigations into alleged misconduct
• Easier legal pathways to hold officers accountable

Republicans were divided. Several expressed discomfort after the shootings and backed the idea of hearings or reviews. Others insisted that immigration enforcement should continue without new restrictions, arguing that voters expect robust law-and-order measures.

This disagreement forced Senate negotiators to remove DHS from the main funding deal.

Which Federal Departments Have Lost Funding Now?

Because the revised funding deal could not clear Congress in time, the shutdown affects several major departments whose budgets have now expired:

• Department of Defence
• Department of State
• Department of Labour
• Department of Health and Human Services
• Department of Education
• Department of Transportation
• Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service
• Financial services and general government agencies

These departments will begin implementing shutdown procedures when federal offices reopen after the weekend, unless funding is restored on Monday.

Which Departments Are Not Affected?

The following agencies already received full-year funding earlier in the fiscal cycle and will continue operating normally:

• Department of Veterans Affairs
• Department of Agriculture
• Food and Drug Administration
• Legislative branch operations
• Department of Commerce
• Justice Department
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• National Science Foundation
• Department of Energy
• Department of the Interior
• Environmental Protection Agency

Because their budgets are already secured, these agencies are insulated from the shutdown.

What Does A US Government Shutdown Actually Mean?

A shutdown does not mean the entire government stops functioning. Instead, US law requires unfunded departments to divide their work into two categories:

• Essential services: national security, public safety, certain health operations. These continue, but employees work without pay until funding is restored.
• Nonessential services: many administrative and public-facing functions. These are paused, and employees are temporarily furloughed.

During the 43-day shutdown last year, the longest in US history, the absence of pay for essential employees caused staffing shortages, particularly in airports, leading to delays and cancellations.

The immediate impact of the current shutdown is limited because it began over a weekend. But the disruption will grow if Congress does not act when lawmakers return on Monday.

Will Immigration Enforcement Slow Down?

Despite the political fight over DHS, immigration enforcement will continue largely uninterrupted.

Under a major funding law passed last year — the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — DHS received roughly $165 billion, including $75 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and $65 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This money provides a cushion that enables immigration operations to continue even without new funding.

As a result, the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement campaign is not expected to slow down during the shutdown.

How Long Could The Partial Shutdown Last?

This shutdown could end quickly, possibly as early as Monday, if the House returns and approves the Senate’s revised package. Trump has already endorsed the plan and is expected to sign it immediately once it arrives at the White House.

But obstacles remain. House Speaker Mike Johnson controls a narrow majority, and conservative lawmakers in the House Freedom Caucus have warned they may oppose the deal. Even a small number of defections could block the procedural vote needed to bring the legislation to the floor.

If negotiations stall, Democrats could choose to step in and provide votes, but their support will depend on progress in discussions over DHS reforms.

What Happens Next?

Here is what to expect in the coming days:

1. The House Rules Committee may meet before Monday to prepare the legislation for debate.
2. Once lawmakers return, the House must pass a procedural rule to bring the bill to the floor.
3. If that fails, Speaker Johnson can use a fallback option — suspension of the rules — which requires a two-thirds majority and bipartisan backing.
4. After House approval, the funding bills go to the president for his signature.
5. The shutdown will end immediately once the measures are signed into law.

News explainers US Government Enters Partial Shutdown: What Triggered It And How Long It May Last

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