Partial US Government Shutdown Begins as Congress Delays Funding Vote

A partial shutdown of the US federal government began at midnight Eastern Time on January 31, 2026, after Congress did not pass appropriations for the new fiscal year. The shutdown affected operations while lawmakers continued negotiations on funding legislation.

Two days before the shutdown, Democratic and Republican leaders reached an agreement to separate Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding from other appropriations. This plan involved passing five appropriations bills and a two-week continuing resolution for DHS funding.

The Senate approved this legislative package on January 30, 2026, with a 71-29 vote. However, the House of Representatives did not immediately vote on the measure, delaying action until the following week.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson announced that the House would take up the revised funding agreement on Monday, February 2, 2026. This delay meant that the shutdown continued into the start of February as the legislative process moved forward.

What the numbers show

• The Senate passed the funding agreement by a 71-29 margin
• The House is set to vote on a $1.2 trillion funding package
• The DHS funding extension in the package lasts 10 days

Republican leaders, including Speaker Johnson, stated they were increasingly confident about passing the spending package to end the shutdown. The Senate had already approved the measure, and President Trump announced he would sign the legislation if it cleared the House.

Former President Trump played a role in persuading two Republican members of the House, Anna Paulina Luna and Tim Burchett, to support moving the funding bills forward. Their support contributed to efforts to advance the legislative process.

The funding package scheduled for a House vote totals $1.2 trillion and includes a temporary 10-day extension for Department of Homeland Security funding. This approach was designed to allow more time for negotiations on DHS appropriations while reopening other parts of the government.

As the House prepared to vote, the partial government shutdown remained in effect, with federal operations limited until new appropriations are enacted. The legislative steps taken in both chambers aimed to resolve the funding impasse and restore full government operations.

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