Trump Administration Latest: Partial Government Shutdown to Continue Until at Least Tuesday
Why funding lapsed, what’s at stake, and how lawmakers are scrambling for a deal in Washington
The United States federal government has entered a partial shutdown that is now expected to last at least through Tuesday, as lawmakers in Congress remain deadlocked over funding and policy conditions tied to a broad spending package. Despite negotiations and bipartisan efforts, key disagreements — particularly over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and immigration enforcement funding — have prevented a final funding bill from clearing both chambers of Congress. �
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This shutdown, while shorter and narrower than the historic one in 2025, nonetheless reveals deep political divisions inside the U.S. government — divisions that may shape American politics and public services well beyond the next few days.
How We Got Here: The Deadline and the Funding Gap
On Friday, January 30, 2026, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan government funding deal aimed at keeping most federal agencies operating through the fall and extending funding for DHS for two weeks while negotiators debate potential changes to immigration enforcement policy. That Senate vote was 71–29 in favor of the package. �
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However, because the Senate’s version of the legislation differed from what the House of Representatives had previously passed — and because the House was not in session in time — the House did not vote on the bill before funding expired at midnight Saturday. As a result, funding for several government agencies lapsed and a partial shutdown began. �
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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) has repeatedly expressed confidence that the shutdown will end by Tuesday, when the chamber is scheduled to resume work and could take up the Senate bill or a revised version thereof. But as of the latest reporting, no final vote has yet been scheduled, meaning the shutdown will extend into early next week. �
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What’s in the Senate Funding Deal — and Why It Didn’t Pass Immediately
The Senate’s funding deal was designed as a stopgap measure to avert a prolonged shutdown:
It would fund most of the federal government — including major departments such as Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, and HUD — through the rest of fiscal year 2026.
It carves out DHS funding and extends it only for two additional weeks, a short period intended to allow more time for negotiation over reforms to the agency’s immigration enforcement practices. �
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The focus on DHS arose after controversial immigration enforcement operations, including shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis that killed two U.S. citizens, spurred intense debate over how agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operate. �
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Despite the Senate majority backing the measure, the House — which holds a narrow Republican majority — faced internal and cross-party resistance. Some conservative Republicans and House Democrats objected to parts of the plan, particularly the short DHS extension without tougher oversight. As a result, funding lapsed before the House could act. �
New York Post
Why the Shutdown Continues Until Tuesday
Even though funding ran out, lawmakers hope the shutdown will be relatively short. Here’s why it’s expected to stretch into Tuesday:
Timing of the House session: The House was in recess over the weekend and did not return until Monday, meaning a vote could not be held in time to prevent the initial lapse. �
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Procedural hurdles: Speaker Johnson has indicated that procedural rules in the House — especially around a narrow Republican majority and some internal disagreement — mean the funding package may not be ready for a floor vote until Tuesday at the earliest. �
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Democratic demands: House Democrats have stated they will not simply “lend votes” to pass the deal unless certain reforms — especially on DHS and immigration enforcement — are addressed in the legislation. �
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Taken together, these factors make a reopening of government early in the week more likely than over the weekend. But as with many shutdowns in recent U.S. history, the exact end time remains uncertain until a final vote is cast and the president signs the funding bill.
Which Parts of Government Are Affected?
In a partial shutdown, not all federal functions halt. According to federal guidelines:
Likely Affected Agencies
The current shutdown affects agencies that had not been fully funded when appropriations expired — a list that includes departments like:
State
Treasury
Defense (certain non-essential functions)
Transportation
Housing and Urban Development
Health and Human Services
Labor
Education
Homeland Security beyond the short extension status �
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Essential Services That Continue
Some agencies and functions continue to operate under existing law, including:
Veterans Affairs programs
Medicare and Social Security benefits
Select operations at Commerce, Justice, and Energy Departments
Certain military and defense activities
Independent agencies like NASA and the National Science Foundation �
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Federal workers and contractors in “essential” roles may be required to continue working without pay until funding is restored.
Who Works Without Pay — And Who Is Furloughed?
Under typical shutdown rules, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issues guidance to agencies:
Excepted employees (essential): Workers whose functions are essential to protect life and property continue to work without pay.
Non-excepted employees: Workers whose duties are not deemed essential may be furloughed — placed on temporary unpaid leave — until funding is restored. �
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This mix of continuing operations and furloughs creates uncertainty for millions of federal workers and contractors, though it’s worth noting that many benefits and services — such as Social Security and mail delivery — continue despite a lapse in funding.
Political Dynamics: Republican Unity and Democratic Demands
Republican Strategy
Speaker Johnson and House Republicans are trying to navigate a narrow majority while balancing internal factions. Johnson has signaled confidence that he can secure enough Republican votes to pass the funding package by Tuesday — even if some conservative members have qualms about parts of the Senate deal. �
Reuters
Johnson has framed the strategy as working with President Trump’s request to scale back certain controversial elements of immigration enforcement, while preserving core funding priorities for Republican lawmakers. �
Axios
Democratic Stance
House Democrats, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have resisted supporting the funding package unless it includes meaningful reforms to DHS and ICE, such as:
Mandatory body cameras for immigration officers
Visible identification requirements
Limits on warrantless enforcement actions
Independent oversight of controversial practices �
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Democrats argue these reforms stem from concerns over civil liberties and the recent deaths during federal operations in Minneapolis. They say funding the agency without reform would endorse current policies they find troubling. �
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Trump Administration’s Position
President Donald Trump has backed the Senate-approved funding deal and urged Congress to act quickly to end the shutdown. According to reporting, Trump agreed to a strategy focused on isolating the Homeland Security funding piece to allow negotiations over immigration policy to proceed separately, rather than letting the entire government’s funding hinge on the debate. �
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The White House has also signaled support for bipartisan cooperation on appropriations, even as public disagreements over policy demands persist.
What It Means for the Public and Federal Services
Even short shutdowns can have measurable impacts:
Economic Effects
Markets may respond negatively to uncertainty over government funding, especially if shutdown news collides with other economic reports or weak confidence data. In the past, prolonged shutdowns have weighed on GDP growth and consumer sentiment. �
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Federal Workers
Millions of federal employees may face delayed paychecks or uncertainty about their work schedules. Even if a shutdown ends quickly, retroactive pay typically requires separate legislative approval.
Public Services
Services tied to funded agencies could see disruptions — for example:
IRS processing delays
National Parks closures or limited access
Reduced permitting and licensing services
However, many core benefits remain unaffected. �
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A Short Shutdown in a Long Trend
While the current partial shutdown is expected to be brief — lasting only until at least Tuesday — it is part of a broader trend of repeated funding stalemates in recent years. Earlier in the 2025 fiscal cycle, the U.S. experienced a record-long 43-day shutdown, illustrating how challenging bipartisan agreement has become. �
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Unlike that longer closure, this recent shutdown affects a narrower slice of government operations and may not generate as many dramatic service interruptions. But even short shutdowns underscore the fragility of U.S. budget politics and the difficulty of reaching consensus on complex policy priorities.
What Happens Next: Road to Tuesday
With lawmakers back in session this week, attention now turns to the House floor vote on the Senate-approved funding package or a modified version of it. If passed, the bill would immediately restore funding to shuttered agencies and likely include reconciliation over DHS reforms in the coming two weeks.
If the House fails to pass the measure, lawmakers face a choice of further delaying, rewriting parts of the deal, or negotiating new terms — each carrying political risk and potential public frustration.
Conclusion: Shutdown by Deadline, Solution in Sight
The partial government shutdown that began over the weekend is now expected to continue until at least Tuesday, as House leaders work to bring a funding package to the floor, navigate internal party disagreements, and respond to Democratic demands for policy reforms tied to immigration enforcement. Majority and minority leaders have described the impasse as a matter of negotiation that could soon be resolved, but for now, federal agencies continue under a funding lapse, and workers and the public wait for Congressional action.
Whether the shutdown will be brief or stretch longer depends on negotiations this week and the willingness of lawmakers to compromise — a test of U.S. governing institutions amid a deeply polarized political climate.
About the Creator
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More stories from Zahid Hussain and writers in The Swamp and other communities.
The Smell of Fuzz
There is a smell that doesn’t come from flowers or rain or burning wood. It doesn’t rise from kitchens or factories or forests. It isn’t visible, yet everyone recognizes it the moment it appears. It hangs heavy in the air, sharp and unmistakable. It tightens the chest, slows the steps, and makes conversations suddenly quieter. People call it many things. Oppression. Surveillance. Fear. But on the street, in whispers and jokes, it has another name. The smell of fuzz. This smell appears long before sirens wail or boots hit the ground. It shows up before questions are asked, before doors are knocked, before anyone says, “You’re under arrest.” It’s the invisible signal that authority is nearby — watching, listening, waiting. And once you learn to recognize it, you never forget it. What Does “The Smell of Fuzz” Really Mean? At its simplest, “the fuzz” is slang for law enforcement. But the smell of fuzz isn’t about police cars or uniforms. It’s about presence without permission. It’s the feeling that someone else controls the space you’re standing in. You feel it when: A peaceful protest suddenly goes quiet Conversations lower their volume mid-sentence People instinctively check their phones, bags, and pockets Jokes stop being funny The smell of fuzz isn’t always tied to wrongdoing. Often, no crime is being committed at all. That’s what makes it powerful — and unsettling. It’s not about guilt. It’s about power. Fear Has a Scent Humans have evolved to detect danger without seeing it. Long before laws and governments, our ancestors learned to sense predators, storms, and threats through subtle changes in their environment. Today, the predator isn’t a wild animal. It’s uncertainty. The smell of fuzz is the modern equivalent of rustling bushes in the dark. Your brain asks the same ancient question: “Am I safe right now?” Even people who respect the law, even those who have never been arrested, feel it. Because fear doesn’t require wrongdoing — it only requires imbalance. Why Silence Follows Authority One of the strangest things about the smell of fuzz is how quickly it changes behavior. Laughter fades. Opinions soften. Truth becomes careful. People don’t stop talking because they are guilty. They stop talking because being misunderstood carries consequences. In many societies, authority doesn’t need to act harshly to be effective. It only needs to be present. The possibility of punishment is often more powerful than punishment itself. That’s why the smell lingers. The Thin Line Between Safety and Control Supporters of strong law enforcement argue — often correctly — that police presence can prevent crime, protect communities, and maintain order. Streets without rules can quickly become dangerous. But there’s a difference between safety and intimidation. Safety feels calm. Control feels tense. When authority reassures, people relax. When authority dominates, people withdraw. The smell of fuzz appears when the balance tilts too far toward control — when protection begins to feel like surveillance. Who Smells It First? Not everyone experiences the smell of fuzz equally. For some, it’s faint. For others, it’s overwhelming. History shows that marginalized communities often smell it first and strongest. People who have been stopped, searched, questioned, or targeted before develop a sharper sensitivity. To them, authority doesn’t represent neutrality. It represents memory. Memory of: Being assumed guilty Being watched without reason Being treated as a suspect before a citizen Once fear has a history, it returns faster. The Smell in the Digital Age Today, the smell of fuzz isn’t limited to streets and crowds. It has entered the digital world. You feel it when: Posts are deleted without explanation Accounts are shadow-banned Messages feel unsafe to send Algorithms quietly decide what is “acceptable” No sirens. No uniforms. No visible force. Yet the silence is the same. Digital authority doesn’t knock on doors — it reshapes reality. It decides what is seen, what is hidden, and what disappears. And yes, it has a smell too. When Protection Becomes Performance There’s another layer to the smell of fuzz: performance. Sometimes authority isn’t present to protect — it’s present to be seen. Riot gear at peaceful gatherings. Armored vehicles on quiet streets. Aggressive postures where none are required. This kind of presence sends a message, intentional or not: “We are in charge. Don’t forget it.” The smell intensifies not because of danger, but because of theatrics. Why People Joke About It Humor is a survival tool. When people joke about “the fuzz,” they’re not being disrespectful — they’re reclaiming a small piece of control. Laughter weakens fear. Nicknames shrink authority to something manageable. But jokes also reveal truth. If authority felt universally fair and humane, it wouldn’t need a slang name whispered under breath. Can the Smell Be Washed Away? Yes — but not easily. The smell of fuzz fades when trust replaces fear. When authority is transparent, accountable, and human, its presence feels different. Trust grows when: Questions are answered, not punished Power is explained, not imposed Mistakes are acknowledged, not denied Communities are partners, not targets When people believe they will be treated fairly, the air changes. Listening Changes the Air The most powerful antidote to the smell of fuzz isn’t force — it’s listening. When authority listens, people speak. When people speak, fear loosens. When fear loosens, trust can grow. Listening doesn’t weaken authority. It legitimizes it. Why This Conversation Matters Some will say: “If you’re not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to fear.” History disagrees. Many of the world’s darkest chapters were written under systems where “doing nothing wrong” offered no protection. Rights exist precisely because innocence alone is not enough. The smell of fuzz reminds us of that truth. The Smell as a Warning System Rather than dismiss it, we should treat the smell of fuzz as a signal — not of criminality, but of imbalance. When people feel watched instead of protected, something needs attention. When silence replaces dialogue, something is broken. Ignoring the smell doesn’t make it disappear. It only makes it stronger. A Different Kind of Presence Imagine authority that smells like: Calm instead of tension Confidence instead of dominance Service instead of control That kind of presence exists in some places. It proves the smell of fuzz is not inevitable — it’s a result of choices. Choices about tone. Choices about power. Choices about humanity. Final Thoughts: Naming the Smell Matters To name something is to acknowledge it. “The smell of fuzz” is more than slang. It’s a shared human experience, a quiet understanding passed through generations. It tells us when power feels heavy and trust feels thin. If we want safer societies, we must aim not just for order — but for dignity. Because the best kind of authority doesn’t announce itself with fear. It walks in quietly… and the air stays easy to breathe.
By Zahid Hussaina day ago in The Swamp
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