Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Washington — The United States federal government entered a shutdown early Saturday after lawmakers in Congress failed to approve the full suite of appropriations needed to fund government operations for the 2026 fiscal year. The lapse occurred at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on January 31, 2026, when the deadline for passing key funding legislation expired without an agreement between Republican and Democratic lawmakers. This marks a renewed shutdown following intense budget negotiations and persistent political disagreement over how to allocate federal spending.
Government funding is structured around 12 annual appropriations bills that must be enacted before the start of the fiscal year on October 1 each year. Mid‑season lapses in funding are ordinarily prevented by a continuing resolution or omnibus spending package, but in this case Congress had not finalised all required measures by the deadline. Despite the Senate passing a broad $1.2 trillion spending package late on Friday to fund many departments through September, procedural delays and unresolved issues in the House meant the legislation could not be voted on in time to avert the shutdown. Funding for certain agencies — most notably the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — had already been extended only on a temporary basis in recent days to allow additional negotiation.
The immediate impact of the shutdown will be felt across multiple federal departments and agencies where appropriations have expired. Key parts of government affected include the Department of Defense, Department of State, Health and Human Services, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Treasury, among others. Under shutdown rules, non‑essential personnel in these agencies are furloughed without pay, while “excepted” employees whose functions protect life and property may continue working without immediate compensation until funding is restored.
The impasse largely stems from deep disagreements in Congress over how to handle funding for DHS, particularly conditions attached to immigration enforcement and oversight of agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Senate Democrats have insisted on reforms to immigration policy and enforcement procedures following controversial incidents involving federal agents, using their leverage to withhold support for the DHS funding bill unless such reforms were included. Republicans, who control the House, have resisted substantial changes, contributing to a fractured budget process that ultimately missed the deadline.
Although the shutdown officially began, its duration and severity are uncertain. Some analysts expect the disruption to be short‑lived because the Senate had lined up most of the spending bills and the House is expected to reconvene to consider the package early next week. If the House approves the Senate’s spending plan and the President signs it into law, normal government operations could resume without a prolonged shutdown. Nevertheless, agencies and employees now face at least a period of furloughs, halted services, and administrative disruption until funding is restored.
Past shutdowns have shown that even short lapses in appropriations can have real consequences for federal employees, contractors, and the public. During previous funding lapses, hundreds of thousands of workers have been furloughed, national parks and museums have closed, and various government services have seen interruptions. While essential functions continue, the disruption can strain public confidence and have knock‑on effects on economic and administrative activities nationwide.
Negotiations now centre on finalising the outstanding appropriations measures and addressing the points of contention that derailed the earlier agreement. Lawmakers in both parties face pressure to reach a compromise that funds the government fully while managing policy disputes, particularly on immigration and border security. A successful deal would reopen funded agencies and restore operations for furloughed workers, while failure to reach consensus could prolong the shutdown and broaden its impacts.
In the days ahead, congressional leaders and the White House have signalled their intent to continue deliberations with an eye toward ending the funding lapse as swiftly as possible. The outcome of these negotiations will determine how long the disruption endures, how many federal employees are affected and how quickly normal government services can be reinstated.
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