The US government shutdown on January 31 took place when the budget allocation deadline at midnight had passed and Congress had not yet approved the 2026 budget.
However, the level of disruption this time will be limited as the US House of Representatives is expected to ratify the agreement supported by the US Senate early next week.
The budget shortfall occurred after 2 protesters were shot dead by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis. The incident disrupted negotiations on new funding for the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
About 3/4 of the federal government's operations are affected in this shutdown, which could lead to widespread shutdown procedures for many agencies and activities, from education and healthcare to housing and defense.
Federal ministries are expected to begin implementing the government shutdown plan on the same night, but congressional leaders from both parties believe that the Senate's action makes short-term disruptions much more likely than prolonged shutdowns.
If the US House of Representatives passes the bailout package as expected early next week, funding will be restored in a few days, minimizing the actual impact of government shutdowns on public services, contractors and federal civil servants.
However, if the US government shutdown lasts longer than a few days, tens of thousands of federal civil servants will risk being given unpaid leave or working without pay until funding is restored.
