The United States government entered a partial shutdown on Saturday (Jan. 31) as it awaited House approval of a funding deal President Donald Trump reached with Democrats, following nationwide outrage over the killing of a US citizen by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis.
The shutdown is expected to be brief, with the House returning from a week-long recess on Monday and the Republican president fully backing the spending package. Most Americans may notice little disruption, as essential federal workers, such as military personnel and air traffic controllers—continue working and are not furloughed during a shutdown.
This marks the second time Congress has failed to fund the government since Trump returned to office last year.
A 43-day shutdown in the fall was the longest and most disruptive in US history, halting food aid to millions of households, canceling thousands of flights, and leaving federal workers unpaid for over a month.
This latest shutdown is more limited, as some parts of the government are already funded through the end of the federal fiscal year on September 30.
Among the funded agencies is the Department of Agriculture, ensuring that food stamp programs will continue without interruption.
Funding for national parks, veterans’ services, and the Justice Department has also already been approved for the year.
