Brief shutdown! The US government partially shuts down again, the House extends until Monday before reconvening to vote on the funding bill.

The US government entered a partial shutdown again early Saturday morning. Although the Senate earlier passed a budget proposal including a temporary funding measure with an overwhelming vote, some federal agencies remain funded only through a lapse in appropriations because the House has not yet voted. This potential shutdown, which could last only a few days, follows last year’s record 43-day shutdown, once again putting pressure on US politics to resolve the budget stalemate.

Senate Rapidly Approves Five Appropriations Bills and Temporary Measures

On Friday night, the Senate passed a comprehensive appropriations plan with a vote of 71 to 29, covering five government funding bills and a two-week temporary funding measure, giving Congress more time to negotiate the contentious budget issues related to the Department of Homeland Security.

This plan excludes the Department of Homeland Security from the appropriations, instead providing short-term temporary funding to keep it operational. Democrats expressed strong dissatisfaction with the department’s recent aggressive immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota, further deepening political divisions in the budget negotiations.

House Delays Reopening, Government Shutdown Likely to Be Temporary

Although the Senate has completed its vote, the House is not expected to reconvene until Monday, causing some government funding to expire officially on Saturday. Affected departments include the State Department, Department of Defense, Department of Treasury, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Transportation, Department of Education, and Department of Housing and Urban Development.

According to a memo issued Friday evening by Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), federal employees should return to work as scheduled and prepare for an orderly shutdown.

Vought emphasized that the White House remains committed to working with Congress to resolve the budget dispute quickly and to complete the full appropriations process for fiscal year 2026. He added, “We hope this budget interruption will end soon.”

Market Predictions Indicate a 1-3 Day Duration:

House Speaker Supports the Plan, Hopes for Smooth Passage on Monday

House Speaker Mike Johnson (Republican from Louisiana) stated during a conference call with his party on Friday afternoon that he would support the Senate version of the appropriations bill. He noted that after former President Trump expressed support for the plan, he also decided to endorse it.

Johnson hopes the House can vote to pass the bill on Monday, after which it can be sent to Trump for signature and enactment. If progress goes smoothly, this brief government shutdown could be resolved within a few days.

Some Republicans Hold Reservations, Proposal Progress Temporarily Blocked

Although the Senate ultimately passed the budget bill, the process was tumultuous. Some Republican senators expressed strong opposition to the plan, causing delays in the bill’s progress.

Among them, South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham refused to withdraw his opposition, demanding that Congress commit to voting on his proposed “Ban Sanctuary Cities” bill; otherwise, he would continue to block the bill. The bill aims to criminalize policies that protect immigrants in sanctuary cities, sparking controversy.

This brief government shutdown highlights the ongoing unresolved fiscal disagreements between the two parties in the US. Even if the appropriations bill is eventually passed by the House, it only provides a brief respite. The real challenge remains in reaching consensus within the next two weeks on long-term funding for the Department of Homeland Security and related contentious issues.

This article Short Pause! US Government Again Faces Partial Shutdown, House Delays Vote on Appropriations Bill Until Monday was first published on Chain News ABMedia.