The partial Government shutdown began at midnight on January 31, 2026, after Congress failed to pass a spending package that included DHS funding. Several major departments, including Defense, Health and Human Services, Education, Labor, Transportation, and State, were forced to initiate “orderly shutdown” procedures. Other agencies remained open because their funding bills had already passed earlier in the fiscal cycle.
The shutdown was triggered by a political standoff over immigration enforcement policies following high‑profile fatal shootings in Minneapolis. Lawmakers disagreed on whether new guardrails should be placed on agencies such as ICE and Border Patrol, leading to a lapse in funding. Although the shutdown was expected to be brief, its effects were felt immediately across the country.
How Did the Shutdown End?The shutdown concluded when Congress passed a spending package funding most federal agencies through the end of the fiscal year, along with a two‑week continuing resolution for DHS. President Donald Trump signed the package into law on February 3, 2026, restoring pay for furloughed workers and reopening shuttered agencies.
What's Next? Lawmakers now have a short window to negotiate long‑term DHS funding and address the immigration enforcement issues that triggered the shutdown.