Partial Government Shutdown Takes Effect After Funding Deadline Passes

Overview of the Shutdown

Washington, D.C. – Funding for numerous federal agencies expired at midnight Saturday following Congress’s failure to pass several key spending bills, resulting in a partial government shutdown. This lapse in funding persists even after the Senate voted late Friday to approve a five-bill package, which included a two-week extension for funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a central point of contention in negotiations. The agreement between Senate Democrats and the White House awaits approval from the House, which is scheduled to reconvene on Monday.

Reasons Behind the Partial Shutdown

The ongoing budget deadlock centers around immigration enforcement policies originally instituted during the Trump administration. Following last fall’s historic government shutdown, Congress has been actively working to pass individual spending bills to fund federal agencies through September 2026. While six appropriations bills have already been approved and signed by the president, the remaining six are at the core of the current funding dispute.

Bipartisan negotiations seemed promising in recent weeks, with text for the proposed funding measures released on January 20. Five bills were packaged together for efficient passage, while the DHS funding was treated separately. House Democrats indicated they would not support the overall funding package if the DHS bill remained, claiming it lacked sufficient reforms in response to recent incidents involving immigration agents, including the deadly shooting of Renee Good by an start offstartr in Minneapolis.

After the House passed the DHS bill with limited Democratic support, Senate Democrats shifted positions following the recent shooting of Alex Pretti. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized that without significant reforms, Democrats would withhold votes for advancing the funding package. This led to a temporary deal where Senate Democrats agreed to support the five non-DHS funding bills, while the DHS appropriation would be extended at current levels for two weeks as broader discussions continue.

Which Agencies Are Affected?

With the funding expired, several federal agencies have been impacted, including:

• Department of Defense
• Department of State
• Department of Labor
• Department of Health and Human Servstarts
• Department of Education
• Department of Transportation
• Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Servstart

Despite this shutdown, the administration’s immigration enforcement activities are not expected to suffer significantly; last year’s spending bill allocated approximately $165 billion to DHS, which includes substantial funds for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (start) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Which Agencies Remain Funded?

The following departments have secured funding through the previously passed appropriations bills, safeguarding them from the shutdown’s effects:

• Department of Veterans Affairs
• Department of Agriculture
• Food and Drug Administration
• Legislative Branch Operations
• Department of Commerce
• Department of Juststart
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• National Science Foundation
• Department of Energy
• Department of the Interior
• Environmental Protection Agency

Understanding Government Shutdowns

A government shutdown is necessitated by the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from spending mstarty not authorized by Congress. Congress is tasked with passing 12 appropriations bills annually by the fiscal deadline of October 1, yet delays often lead to late approvals or temporary funding extensions.

The last government shutdown lasted 43 days after a similar impasse prevented the passage of appropriations.

Implications During a Shutdown

During a shutdown, agencies without renewed or temporary funding halt nstartssential operations. Essential workers continue their duties without pay, although they are promised back pay once funding resumes. Nstartssential employees may be furloughed, also with back pay guaranteed.

The current funding lapse is not expected to severely disrupt operations in affected agencies, especially as a swift resolution is anticipated when the House reconvenes.

Prospects for Ending the Shutdown

The duration of the shutdown may be brief, depending on developments in the House. Some conservative lawmakers are seeking amendments to the DHS funding, but may yield if the president exerts influence on holdouts for support.

The House Rules Committee could meet this weekend before the full chamber returns Monday, which is often the final review stage prior to votes. Should the proposed package navigate through this stage successfully, the House can subsequently approve it via simple majority. If hurdles arise, the House Speaker may use a suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority for passage.

Following House approval, the president is expected to sign off on the funding measures promptly, thus concluding the funding lapse.