US Government Partially Shuts Down Despite Last-Minute Senate Funding Deal

The US federal government entered a partial shutdown at midnight Eastern Time on Saturday, January 31, 2026 (05:00 GMT), even though the Senate approved a funding deal just hours earlier. This lapse occurred because the House of Representatives was out of session and could not vote on the bill until Monday.

The Senate-passed package funds most federal agencies through September 2026, but provides only a two-week extension for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and US Border Patrol operations. This short-term measure for DHS aims to create a window for negotiations on reforms to immigration enforcement tactics.

The shutdown stems from intense bipartisan outrage following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse and US citizen, by federal agents (including a Border Patrol agent) in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026. This was the second such incident in the city that month, after Renee Good was killed by an ICE agent earlier in January amid heightened immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump's administration.

Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, refused to support full DHS funding without changes, citing concerns over aggressive tactics like roving patrols, masked agents, and lack of oversight. Schumer emphasized: "We need to rein in ICE and end the violence... Masks need to come off, cameras need to stay on, and officers need visible identification. No secret police."

President Trump endorsed the Senate deal, struck with Democrats, and urged House Republicans (who hold the majority) to approve it quickly. A White House memo instructed affected agencies—including Transportation, Education, and Defense—to begin orderly shutdown procedures, while expressing hope that the lapse would be brief.

This marks the second partial shutdown in recent months, following a record 43-day full shutdown from October 1 to November 14, 2025, which disrupted services like air travel and left hundreds of thousands of federal workers unpaid for weeks. However, this current lapse is expected to be short-lived and limited, as the House returns Monday to likely pass the bill, potentially ending the shutdown early next week.

The Justice Department launched a civil rights investigation into Pretti's shooting on Friday, January 30. The incident has sparked widespread protests, calls for independent probes, and even criticism from some Republicans, highlighting tensions over Trump's mass deportation and interior enforcement operations.

Lawmakers plan to use the two-week DHS funding window to negotiate reforms, including requirements for body cameras, judicial warrants, and ending certain patrol practices to address public safety and accountability concerns.