The United States federal government has entered a partial shutdown following a lapse in funding, despite a last minute agreement reached in the US Senate to keep most government agencies operational. The shutdown officially began at midnight Eastern Time on Saturday after lawmakers failed to secure full congressional approval for the funding bill.
While the Senate approved a measure to fund most federal agencies until September, the bill included only a temporary two week extension for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees immigration enforcement agencies. The legislation is yet to be approved by the US House of Representatives, which is currently out of session. This partial shutdown affects several federal departments and agencies, though it is expected to be shorter and less disruptive than previous shutdowns.
President Donald Trump reached the funding agreement with Senate Democrats after negotiations stalled over additional resources for immigration enforcement. Democrats opposed increased funding following a recent fatal shooting of two US citizens in Minneapolis by federal agents, an incident that has sparked national outrage and calls for immediate reforms.
This is the second federal government shutdown in the past year, occurring just 11 weeks after the previous shutdown, which lasted 43 days and became the longest in US history. That shutdown, from October 1 to November 14, 2025, disrupted essential government services, including air travel, and left hundreds of thousands of federal workers without pay for weeks. Officials and analysts have noted that this latest shutdown, although partial, highlights the continued political gridlock over government spending and immigration policy.
The White House has instructed several federal departments, including transportation, education, and defence, to execute orderly shutdown procedures. A memo to agencies directed employees to report to work to carry out shutdown related tasks and emphasized that it is the administration’s hope that the funding lapse will be brief. Agencies are being asked to prepare for reduced operations and to ensure that critical services continue during the shutdown period.
President Trump has urged Republican lawmakers, who hold the majority in the House of Representatives, to approve the Senate backed deal when the chamber reconvenes on Monday. Lawmakers plan to use the two week funding window for the Department of Homeland Security to negotiate broader immigration policy reforms. Democrats have made it clear that any permanent funding solution must include strict oversight and accountability measures for immigration enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for immediate reforms, stating, “We need to rein in ICE and end the violence. That means ending roving patrols. It means requiring rules, oversight, and judicial warrants. Masks need to come off, cameras need to stay on, and officers need visible identification. No secret police.” Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have strongly criticised the conduct of federal agents following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, by US Border Patrol officers during an altercation in Minneapolis last weekend.
In response to the shooting, the US Justice Department has launched a civil rights investigation into the incident. The investigation, along with ongoing political negotiations, is putting additional pressure on lawmakers to resolve funding and immigration issues swiftly, as the partial government shutdown continues to affect federal operations and employees across the country.
This shutdown underscores the ongoing challenges in Congress over funding priorities, immigration enforcement, and public accountability, as Americans watch closely for how quickly a resolution can be achieved.
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