Partial US Government Shutdown Begins After Funding Lapse

A partial shutdown of the US federal government began on January 31, 2026, following the expiration of funding for several agencies. The event was triggered when Congress did not approve appropriations for the 2026 fiscal year.

The lapse in funding affected multiple federal departments, including the Department of Homeland Security. The shutdown took effect after midnight Eastern time, marking the start of a period with reduced government operations for impacted agencies.

Prior to the shutdown, the Senate passed a measure on January 29, 2026, that separated funding for the Department of Homeland Security from other departments. The Senate's action provided a two-week continuing resolution for DHS, while funding for other agencies was approved in the same legislative package.

The House of Representatives had not yet voted on the Senate's package at the time the shutdown began. The House was scheduled to consider the Senate-passed deal when it returned to session, according to official plans.

What the numbers show

• The shutdown began at 12:01 a.m. EST on January 31, 2026
• The Senate passed the DHS funding extension on January 29, 2026
• The continuing resolution for DHS funding lasts two weeks

House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement that he was confident the shutdown would end by Tuesday, February 3, 2026. He indicated that the House planned to vote on the Senate-approved funding package upon its return.

Democratic members of the House, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, opposed the temporary extension for DHS funding. They stated that they would not support the measure without changes to immigration enforcement policies.

The shutdown resulted directly from Congress's inability to pass the full set of appropriations bills required for the new fiscal year. The lack of agreement on DHS funding was a central issue in the negotiations leading up to the funding lapse.

At the time of the shutdown, only agencies without approved appropriations were affected, while those covered by the Senate's funding actions continued operations. The situation remained unresolved as the House prepared to vote on the pending legislation.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.