By Obinna Uballa
The United States government entered a partial shutdown at midnight on Saturday after Congress failed to approve funding for the 2026 fiscal year, although lawmakers signalled that the disruption was likely to be brief.
The funding lapse followed a breakdown in negotiations triggered by Democratic anger over the killing of two protesters in Minneapolis by federal immigration agents, which derailed talks over new allocations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Despite the impasse, the Senate late Friday passed a package covering five outstanding funding bills to keep most federal agencies running through September, alongside a two-week stopgap measure to allow DHS operations to continue while lawmakers negotiate immigration enforcement policy.
The House of Representatives, which was out of session when the deadline expired, is expected to reconvene on Monday to ratify the Senate-backed deal, potentially restoring funding within days.
President Donald Trump endorsed the Senate compromise and urged swift action by the House to prevent a prolonged shutdown, the second of his second term, after a record stoppage last fall disrupted federal services for more than a month.
Senate Democratic Minority Whip Dick Durbin blamed the collapse in talks on what he described as the administration’s misplaced enforcement priorities.
“Instead of going after drug smugglers, child predators and human traffickers, the Trump administration is wasting valuable resources targeting peaceful protesters in Chicago and Minneapolis,” Durbin said in a social media post. “This administration continues to make Americans less safe.”
With roughly three-quarters of federal operations affected, agencies began implementing shutdown procedures overnight, potentially disrupting services across education, health, housing and defence if the impasse persists.
Observers say if the House passes the package early next week as expected, the practical impact on government services, contractors and federal workers would be limited. However, a prolonged shutdown could see tens of thousands of federal employees placed on unpaid leave or required to work without pay until funding is restored.
The Senate breakthrough came after Republican Senator Lindsey Graham lifted a procedural block that had stalled the package. Graham had objected to provisions in the DHS stopgap measure and language allowing senators to sue the Justice Department over past seizures of phone records.
He agreed to step aside after Senate leaders pledged to hold future votes on legislation he is sponsoring to target so-called “sanctuary cities” that do not cooperate with federal deportation efforts.
Democrats have remained united in opposing new DHS funding without changes to immigration enforcement following the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.
Their deaths intensified scrutiny of federal agents’ conduct and hardened calls for tighter oversight, including stricter warrant requirements, limits on certain enforcement tactics and greater accountability for officers in the field.
US media reports suggested the White House’s decision to separate DHS funding from the broader budget package reflected a recognition that the administration may need to recalibrate its deportation strategy in the face of political backlash.
Republicans are divided over that approach. While some lawmakers have acknowledged the need for reforms after the shootings, others have warned against concessions that could weaken immigration enforcement.
Although Congress has approved six of the 12 annual funding bills, the remaining measures account for a substantial share of discretionary spending, making the shutdown potentially significant if it drags on.
The Office of Management and Budget on Friday night issued a directive ordering agencies to prepare for an “orderly shutdown,” while expressing hope that the funding lapse would be short-lived.
