The United States rolled into a partial government shutdown early Saturday after lawmakers missed the midnight deadline to pass the 2026 budget. The situation sounds dramatic, but here’s the thing — both parties say a fix is already lined up for early next week.
The breakdown happened after talks collapsed over new funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats walked away following the fatal shooting of two protesters in Minneapolis by federal immigration agents, turning DHS funding into the flashpoint that froze the entire negotiation.
Senator Dick Durbin didn’t mince words, saying the administration was misusing federal resources. He argued that instead of focusing on serious threats, authorities were spending time targeting peaceful demonstrations. In his view, “This Administration continues to make Americans less safe.”
With no deal in place, about three-quarters of federal operations technically entered shutdown mode. Agencies began rolling out contingency plans overnight across sectors like health, housing, education, and defense. Still, congressional leaders on both sides stressed that the Senate’s late-night vote makes this look more like a temporary hiccup than a repeat of last year’s marathon shutdown.
Here’s what happened on Capitol Hill: the Senate approved a package covering five major funding bills through September, plus a two-week stopgap to keep DHS running while debates over immigration enforcement continue. The House, however, was already out of session and won’t return until Monday. If members sign off quickly, funding could be restored within days.
If the delay drags on, federal workers could start facing unpaid leave or work-without-pay orders. But right now, lawmakers sound confident they can avoid that.
The Senate breakthrough only came after Republican Senator Lindsey Graham dropped a procedural hold he’d placed over concerns about DHS language and a House measure tied to Justice Department investigations. Leadership promised future votes on some of his priorities, including a push against “sanctuary cities,” clearing the way for the budget package to move forward.
On the other side, Democrats have stayed firmly united. They want major changes to immigration enforcement before approving more DHS money — demands fueled by the public outcry after the Minneapolis shootings. They’re pushing for tighter oversight, stronger warrant requirements, limits on certain tactics, and clearer accountability for agents in the field.
Many outlets interpreted the administration’s willingness to separate DHS funding from the broader budget as a sign it’s feeling the political pressure. Some Republicans accept that changes might be needed. Others argue that softening enforcement would be a mistake. Expect those disagreements to surface again as DHS negotiations restart next week.
For now, only half of Congress’s annual funding bills are signed into law, and the remaining ones cover a huge chunk of federal spending. A prolonged lapse would be significant.
Still, the mood in Washington — remarkably — is not one of crisis. The Office of Management and Budget, in a late-night memo, told agencies to prep for an “orderly shutdown,” adding what most leaders appear to believe:
“It is our hope that this lapse will be short.”
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