WASHINGTON: The US government entered a partial shutdown on Saturday after Congress failed to approve a funding deal ahead of a midnight deadline. While the Senate passed a bipartisan spending package 71–29, the House of Representatives is out of town and is not expected to vote on the measure until Monday, a Republican leadership aide said.
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The shutdown took effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time (0501 GMT) and is expected to be short-lived, with lawmakers from both parties aiming to prevent a prolonged disruption over disagreements on immigration enforcement. Unlike the record 43-day shutdown last fall, this partial closure is unlikely to have major economic consequences.
BREAKING: 🇺🇸 US Government has officially SHUT DOWN until the House votes on Monday. pic.twitter.com/Ns3DgXOBqP
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The Senate-approved deal separates funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from the broader spending package, allowing critical operations such as the Pentagon and Department of Labor to remain funded while negotiators address federal immigration tactics. DHS funding would be extended for two weeks to give lawmakers time to reach a consensus.
Tensions have risen after the shooting deaths of two US citizens by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, including nurse Alex Pretti, prompting Senate Democrats to demand reforms. They are seeking an end to roving patrols, mandatory body cameras for agents, a ban on face masks, and a requirement for judicial search warrants rather than internal authorization. Republicans have expressed openness to some of these proposals.
Since 1977, the US government has experienced 10 funding gaps of three days or fewer, most with minimal real-world impact, according to the Congressional Research Service. Still, public outrage over recent enforcement actions has heightened pressure on lawmakers to address immigration policies alongside regular government funding.
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The brief shutdown highlights ongoing partisan debates in Washington, even as lawmakers work to ensure essential government functions continue uninterrupted while immigration enforcement disagreements are resolved.