The United States slipped into another partial government shutdown late Friday night after lawmakers failed to finalise the federal budget for the 2026 financial year before the January 30 deadline. As the clock struck midnight, funding stopped for several government departments, forcing many non-essential operations to shut down across the country.
This is the second shutdown in just 11 weeks, raising serious questions about political stability in Washington. Although leaders from both parties claim the disruption may not last long, thousands of federal workers have already been impacted.
Why Talks Collapsed at the Last Moment
Budget negotiations broke down after sharp disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over immigration enforcement. Democratic leaders demanded changes to the functioning of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following the killing of two protesters in Minneapolis during a federal immigration operation. These demands stalled talks on new spending approvals, pushing the government into shutdown mode.
Despite the setback, senior lawmakers have hinted at a quick resolution. The House of Representatives is expected to vote early next week on a Senate-approved temporary funding plan that would restart government operations and continue financing critical agencies, including DHS.
Which Departments Are Affected
Because Congress failed to pass all 12 required annual spending bills, several departments have stopped or reduced operations. Agencies likely to feel immediate impact include:
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Major departments such as Defense, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development also lost funding at midnight.
Non-essential staff have been placed on furlough, meaning they must stay home without pay. Essential employees may still work but will not receive salaries until funding is restored.
IRS Gets Temporary Relief
The IRS confirmed that all staff will continue working at least until February 7, as the annual tax filing season has already begun. No furloughs are planned at the agency for now, but prolonged shutdown could change that.
A Growing Pattern of Political Deadlock
The previous shutdown ended only weeks ago after lasting 43 days, the longest in US history. With another shutdown now underway, pressure is mounting on Congress to end repeated budget standoffs that disrupt public services and federal workers’ livelihoods.
