Federal Government Enters Partial Shutdown Despite Last-Minute Funding Deal

The United States federal government has officially entered a partial shutdown as of Saturday midnight (Jan 31), after failing to clear all legislative hurdles despite a late-night Senate deal. This marks the second time in a year that the U.S. government has faced such a funding freeze.

While the Senate agreed to fund most agencies through September, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was only granted a two-week temporary extension. This friction stems from intense political backlash following the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis. Democratic leader Chuck Schumer emphasized that "secret police" tactics must end, demanding strict body-cam mandates and judicial warrants for ICE operations.

The White House has already instructed the Departments of Defense, Education, and Transportation to initiate shutdown protocols. However, experts believe this impasse will be short-lived compared to 2025’s record-breaking 43-day shutdown, as the House of Representatives is scheduled to reconvene on Monday to finalize the deal.