US Enters Partial Shutdown After Funding Expires; DHS Gets Two-Week Extension

A partial shutdown of the US federal government came into effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Saturday after funding lapsed for several key agencies, following the House of Representatives’ inability to vote on a Senate-approved funding package before the deadline. Lawmakers and officials, however, expect the disruption to be short-lived, with a resolution likely early next week.

The US Senate late Friday passed a bipartisan funding agreement that keeps most federal agencies financed through September 2026, while granting a two-week stopgap extension for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The temporary DHS funding is meant to allow further negotiations on Democratic demands for enhanced congressional oversight of immigration enforcement. President Donald Trump has endorsed the deal and is expected to sign it swiftly once the House gives its approval.

Despite Senate passage, a brief shutdown became unavoidable because the House was not in session and is scheduled to reconvene only on Monday, February 2. Congressional leaders are now aiming for a rapid vote, possibly under a suspension of rules, which would require a two-thirds majority. Multiple lawmakers have signaled there is little appetite for a prolonged standoff, particularly after last year’s 43-day shutdown that severely disrupted government operations.

Officials expect the shutdown to be largely technical and limited to the weekend, potentially extending into Monday if procedural delays occur. Once the House votes and the president signs the bill, normal funding is expected to resume almost immediately. Media reports from US outlets describe the lapse as brief, with minimal long-term economic or administrative fallout anticipated.

The shutdown is partial, not full, as several agencies were already funded for the current fiscal year. Non-essential operations at departments such as Defense, Health and Human Services, Treasury, State, Education, Labour, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development face temporary pauses, with some staff furloughed or working without immediate pay. Military personnel continue to receive salaries, and furloughed federal employees are expected to receive back pay once funding is restored.

Essential services remain operational. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP benefits, the US Postal Service, national parks, Smithsonian museums, and the National Zoo continue functioning, though some services may be limited. Air traffic controllers, TSA officers, immigration officials, and law enforcement personnel remain on duty, but travelers could face minor delays due to staffing pressures. With negotiations on DHS funding ongoing, lawmakers expect the shutdown to end swiftly, restoring full government operations early next week.