Partial U.S. Shutdown Ends; DHS Funding Fight Looms

President Donald Trump signed legislation to end the brief partial shutdown on February 3, 2026, restoring funding for most federal agencies through September 30 while Congress left the Department of Homeland Security on a two-week patch. The move closed a four-day lapse in funding that began over the weekend but set up a fresh, high-stakes fight over immigration enforcement at DHS.

What Happened

After days of wrangling, the House on February 3 approved a roughly $1.2 trillion package to reopen much of the government; House passage came on a 217–214 vote. Trump signed it soon after, ending the partial closure that started on Saturday, January 31, 2026. The package completes 11 of the annual spending bills for the fiscal year and keeps DHS operating only on a short-term continuing resolution that expires February 13. DHS is funded only through February 13, giving negotiators a narrow window to strike a deal.

Who Was Affected

The lapse hit departments whose full-year bills were still pending, including Defense, Transportation, State, Treasury and Homeland Security. Essential operations continued, but some employees faced furloughs or the prospect of working without pay if the standoff had dragged on. Air traffic controllers, for example, would have remained on the job, raising concerns about morale and staffing if pay were delayed.

Other impacts were uneven. FEMA’s disaster fund retained an estimated several billion dollars to respond to winter storms and other emergencies, though longer disruptions could have added pressure. The State Department kept passports, visas and consulates running, albeit with trimmed nonessential functions. Nutrition programs were insulated: prior legislation funded the Agriculture Department for the year, so SNAP and WIC benefits proceeded uninterrupted. The shutdown also rippled into federal data: the Labor Department postponed the January jobs report and other releases until funding resumed. Most agencies are funded through September 30, reducing the risk of broader service interruptions for now.

What’s Next

The next deadline arrives Friday, February 13. Lawmakers must resolve DHS appropriations amid a heated debate over immigration enforcement practices. Democrats are pressing for added oversight and policy changes; Republicans have pushed back on several proposals. If talks falter, only DHS and its component agencies would face a new lapse, not the rest of the government. Watch for whether party leaders convert the two-week truce into a full-year DHS bill — or whether another stopgap (and another countdown) follows.

Sources

• Trump signs bill to end partial government shutdown, setting stage for next fight — Associated Press (February 3, 2026)
• What to know about the partial government shutdown — Associated Press (January 31, 2026)
• Trump signs bill to end partial government shutdown, setting stage for next fight — Washington Post (February 3, 2026)
• Here’s What to Know About the Partial Government Shutdown — New York Times (February 2, 2026)