Partial Government Shutdown Begins After Congress Misses Midnight Deadline
The U.S. government slipped into a partial shutdown early Saturday after Congress missed a midnight deadline to finalize a spending package, allowing funding to expire across several major federal departments despite signs that a deal is close at hand.
The lapse affects wide swaths of the federal government, including the Department of Defense, the State Department and the Department of Health and Human Services. Lawmakers and the White House have framed the shutdown as temporary, with expectations that it will be resolved within days once the House of Representatives returns to Washington.
Funding Deadline Missed, Partial Shutdown Begins
Funding technically expired at 12:01 a.m. Saturday after negotiations stalled late Friday. Federal agencies affected by the lapse began implementing shutdown procedures, furloughing nonessential workers and suspending some services. Essential operations, including national defense activities and critical public health functions, are expected to continue for now.
The shutdown comes after weeks of negotiations that had initially pointed toward a smooth resolution. Just days ago, congressional leaders were poised to pass a sweeping spending package covering most of the government before the deadline.
Senate Advances Deal as House Recess Delays Final Vote
On Friday evening, the Senate approved a set of appropriations bills funding five major departments through the end of the fiscal year in September. In addition, senators passed a two-week stopgap funding measure for the Department of Homeland Security.
That short-term extension is designed to give lawmakers more time to negotiate potential reforms at Homeland Security following two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by federal immigration officers in Minnesota earlier this month.
The legislation now heads to the House, which recessed until Monday. Because the chamber is out of session, the funding lapse was unavoidable, even though Senate passage placed Congress within striking distance of ending the impasse.
Immigration Dispute Upends $1.3 Trillion Spending Plan
The shutdown marks a dramatic reversal from last week, when Congress appeared on track to approve nearly $1.3 trillion in funding for defense, health care, transportation, housing and other priorities in a single package.
Those plans unraveled after the second deadly shooting involving federal immigration officers in Minneapolis. In response, Democrats said they would not support a full-year funding deal without changes to immigration enforcement policy and stronger oversight mechanisms.
Republicans resisted tying immigration reforms to must-pass spending legislation, warning that reopening policy debates risked derailing the budget process altogether. The resulting standoff forced leaders to break the package apart and pursue a narrower compromise.
What the Senate-Passed Bills Cover
Under the agreement approved by the Senate, lawmakers voted on five appropriations bills funding the Departments of Defense; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; State; and Financial Services and General Government through September.
Homeland Security was carved out for a two-week continuing resolution, creating a new mid-February deadline that will require further negotiations. Supporters say the approach prevents a prolonged shutdown while allowing time for targeted talks on immigration-related reforms.
White House Backs Deal as Pressure Shifts to House
President Donald Trump has endorsed the Senate-passed package, increasing pressure on House lawmakers to act swiftly once they return from recess. House leaders are expected to bring the amended bill to the floor soon after Monday’s session begins.
The House had previously passed a broader funding package covering all six departments, meaning it must now vote again on the revised version approved by the Senate.
