US government enters temporary shutdown after funding bill stalls in House

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - WASHINGTON — The US government entered a temporary shutdown early Saturday after Congress failed to enact a funding law before the midnight deadline, despite Senate approval of a stopgap spending package.

The Senate voted 71–29 late Friday to pass a funding measure that includes five long-term appropriations bills and a two-week extension of funding for the Department of Homeland Security to allow further negotiations on immigration enforcement. However, the package still requires approval by the House of Representatives, which is not expected to return to Washington until Monday.

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The shutdown follows mounting political tensions over immigration policy. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats would not support the package unless provisions funding DHS were removed, citing concerns after federal immigration agents in Minnesota fatally shot US citizen Alex Pretti — the second such killing by immigration enforcement officers this month.

If the House passes the measure early next week, any disruption is expected to be limited. Lawmakers in both parties have signaled little appetite for a prolonged shutdown like the 43-day stoppage that occurred late last year.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats would review the Senate-passed legislation before deciding their next steps.

“The Trump administration must set forth an ironclad path that dramatically reforms ICE and other DHS agencies that the American people know have become lawless and heavy-handed,” Jeffries said in a statement, adding that action should be taken before Congress reconvenes Monday evening.

On Friday, Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought instructed affected federal agencies to begin implementing orderly shutdown procedures. Agencies facing funding lapses include the departments of defense, homeland security, state, treasury, labor, health and human services, education, transportation, and housing and urban development.

“As it is now clear that Congress will not complete its work before the expiration of appropriations, affected agencies should now execute plans for an orderly shutdown,” Vought said in a memo, directing employees to report for their next scheduled duty to carry out shutdown activities.

Vought added that the Trump administration would continue working with Congress to resolve outstanding issues and complete appropriations for fiscal year 2026.