The United States government entered a partial shutdown early Saturday after Congress failed to pass a comprehensive budget for the 2026 fiscal year before the midnight deadline. While the lapse in funding has triggered formal shutdown procedures across parts of the federal government, lawmakers from both major parties indicated that the interruption is expected to be brief.
Congressional leaders said the House of Representatives is likely to approve a funding agreement already passed by the Senate early next week. If that occurs, federal funding would be restored within days, limiting the duration and impact of the shutdown. In the interim, an estimated three-quarters of federal operations are technically affected, prompting agencies to begin implementing contingency plans.
The breakdown in negotiations was driven primarily by political disputes rather than budgetary constraints. Talks stalled after Democratic lawmakers withdrew from discussions over additional funding for the Department of Homeland Security, citing outrage over the deaths of two protesters in Minneapolis during an operation involving federal immigration agents deployed under President Donald Trump.
Senate Democratic Minority Whip Dick Durbin criticized the administration’s use of federal personnel, accusing it of diverting resources away from combating serious crimes. In a public statement posted on social media, Durbin argued that federal agents were being used to confront peaceful demonstrators rather than focusing on threats such as drug trafficking and child exploitation. He said the administration’s actions had undermined public safety.
Under the current shutdown, a broad range of federal agencies could face operational disruptions, including those responsible for education, health, housing, and defense. Departments began preparing for limited operations overnight, although congressional leaders emphasized that swift House approval of the Senate-backed deal would prevent a prolonged standoff.
Should negotiations extend beyond the coming days, the effects would intensify. Tens of thousands of federal employees could be furloughed or required to work without pay, government contractors could experience payment delays, and public services across multiple sectors would face increasing disruption.
