The US government has entered a partial shutdown after Congress failed to pass key spending bills by the deadline, amid deep divisions over immigration enforcement and funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
Funding for several federal agencies expired at 12 a.m. on Saturday after Congress failed to pass six outstanding spending bills before the deadline, triggering a partial government shutdown. The lapse occurred despite the Senate voting late Friday to approve a five-bill package and extend funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for two weeks, with final approval still required from the House, which is scheduled to return to Washington on Monday.
The funding standoff is largely driven by disagreements over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies. Lawmakers have been working to pass individual spending bills to fund the government through September 2026, following the longest shutdown in US history last fall. While six bills have already been passed and signed into law, the remaining six have become entangled in disputes, particularly over DHS funding and the conduct of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Tensions escalated after deadly incidents involving federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, prompting Senate Democrats to oppose DHS funding without additional reforms. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats would not support moving forward unless DHS funding was removed, outlining demands that include ending roving patrols by immigration agents, banning the use of masks and tightening warrant requirements. Republicans, while condemning the incidents, urged Democrats to pursue reforms directly with the Trump administration as negotiations remain stalled.