Budget deadlock pushes US federal departments into partial shutdown

US federal departments were hit by a partial shutdown on January 31 after a midnight deadline passed without Congress approving a 2026 budget, according to foreign media reports.

The blockage came amid Democrat senators' calls for new funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to be made contingent on restrictions on federal immigration agents after they shot dead two people amid protests against the Trump administration's deportation drive.

The House of Representatives previously approved a package to fund all six federal departments but now needs to vote again on an amended Senate-backed package that includes only temporary funding for the DHS while negotiations continue on the immigration issue.

The House is expected to convene on Monday to vote on the package, which has already received the approval of US President Donald Trump. He has urged quick House action to avoid a prolonged shutdown like the record 43-day one last fall.

 If the present shutdown lasts more than a few days, tens of thousands of federal workers risk being put on unpaid leave or being asked to work on without pay until funding is restored.

Congress has already approved six of the 12 annual funding bills, but those in the current package fund the larger part of federal operations.

Democrats have remained adamant in refusing new DHS funding unless rules are changed for immigration enforcement following the fatal shootings of US citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.

They want any new DHS funding bill to include reforms, including stricter warrant requirements, a ban on immigration officers wearing masks and the obligation for them to wear body cameras, among other things.

Negotiations on such measures are to be enabled by the Senate-approved two-week stopgap funding measure for the DHS contained in the January 30 deal.

By Tamilla Hasanova