Explained: Is The US Government Facing Another Government Shutdown?
Is the U.S. government headed for another shutdown? Yes, but this one isn't like last year's record-breaking closure. At 12:01 AM Eastern Time on January 31, 2026, parts of the U.S. federal government will shut down because Congress didn't pass all the funding bills before the deadline. Only some departments are funded, others, like Homeland Security, are in limbo. This shutdown is expected to be short-lived, because lawmakers have a plan to pass the funding when the House reconvenes.
