The US government has entered a partial shutdown as Congress failed to approve the 2026 budget by the January 30 deadline. The shutdown affects around 75% of federal operations, including departments like Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security.
The impasse is due to Democratic opposition to funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the fatal shooting of two protesters in Minneapolis. A Senate-backed deal is expected to be approved by the House early next week, which could restore funding within days.
Affected Services:
- Federal Workers:
Over 500,000 may work without pay, while 480,000 could be furloughed
- National Parks:
Likely to remain open
- USPS:
Mail delivery and post offices will continue
- Social Security and Medicare:
Payments will continue
The shutdown is expected to be brief, with minimal disruption to government services.