Brief US Government Shutdown Begins Despite Senate Passing Funding Deal — Here’s Why
The United States government entered a partial shutdown after a midnight funding deadline passed, even though the US Senate approved a last-minute spending deal backed by President Donald Trump.
According to reports, the shutdown took effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, as Congress failed to fully approve the federal budget for the 2026 fiscal year before the deadline.
Why the US Government Shut Down Briefly
Although the Senate passed the funding package with a bipartisan vote of 71–29, the House of Representatives was not in session and could not ratify the agreement in time. Lawmakers in the House are not expected to take up the bill until Monday, making a short-term funding lapse unavoidable.
As a result, a weekend shutdown was triggered, even though Senate leaders expressed confidence that government operations would resume quickly once the House votes.
What the Funding Deal Includes
The spending package was negotiated amid heightened political tension, particularly over immigration enforcement. The agreement includes provisions sought by Democrats related to oversight of federal agents, including:
Greater transparency around agent identification
Expanded warrant requirements
Increased involvement of local authorities in investigations
Under the deal:
Most federal agencies would be funded through September, the end of the fiscal year
Funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was separated and extended for only two weeks, allowing lawmakers time to negotiate changes
President Trump publicly supported the agreement, urging lawmakers from both parties to pass the measure to avoid prolonged disruption.
Second Shutdown of Trump’s Second Term
If the shutdown extends beyond the weekend, it would mark the second government shutdown of President Trump’s second term.
The previous shutdown, which began in October last year, lasted 43 days, making it the longest shutdown in US history. That standoff disrupted food assistance programs, delayed federal employee salaries, and caused major disruptions across transportation and public services.
What Is a US Government Shutdown?
A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass funding legislation, forcing non-essential federal operations to halt. During a shutdown:
Many federal employees are furloughed or required to work without pay
Public services and regulatory agencies face delays
Economic uncertainty increases if the shutdown continues
Impact Expected to Be Limited
Despite the shutdown, officials say the immediate impact is likely to be minimal if Congress acts quickly next week. Immigration enforcement agencies are expected to remain largely unaffected due to long-term funding already approved under earlier legislation.
Congress has already passed six of the twelve annual budget bills, but funding for approximately 78% of federal operations remains unresolved.
House leadership has indicated that lawmakers will move swiftly once they return, though internal divisions could complicate negotiations.
What Happens Next?
If the House approves the bill on Monday, the shutdown could end within days. Lawmakers would then have a two-week window to finalize full-year funding for DHS — a process expected to involve intense debate over immigration policy and enforcement limits.
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