The federal government is facing a potential partial shutdown as bipartisan disagreement continues over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following a recent tragic incident in Minneapolis that claimed the life of a U.S. citizen during a protest. This looming shutdown comes just months after the end of a record-long government closure.
Federal funding is set to expire after January 30, which would trigger shutdown procedures for several agencies unless Congress can reach an agreement. Notably, critical departments such as Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, Interior, Energy, Justice, and Commerce will remain funded throughout the fiscal year due to prior legislation. However, the looming shutdown could still have widespread ramifications, particularly for travelers facing delays at airports and federal employees who could miss paychecks.
Despite Republican control of both the House and Senate, they require the support of at least seven Democrats in order to pass a spending bill in the Senate. Last week, the House passed a funding bill, but Senate Democrats are pledging to obstruct it without significant reforms to DHS or a separate funding measure for the agency. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are advocating for the spending bill as-is, counting on recent efforts by the Trump administration to ease tensions surrounding DHS, particularly in Minnesota, in hopes of avoiding a shutdown.
A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass an appropriations bill for federal departments by the start of the fiscal year on October 1. Without such funding measures—either through full funding legislation or continuing resolutions—agencies must cease operations. Partial shutdowns can occur if certain agencies are fully funded while others are not, resulting in a mixed landscape of government functionality.
The deadline for the potential partial shutdown looms at January 31. Affected agencies could include DHS, Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, and others which make up a significant portion of federal discretionary spending. Agencies typically create contingency plans detailing their operations in case of a shutdown, but currently, there is limited access to these plans due to changes in how they are published.
Essential functions, such as air traffic control and TSA operations, will likely continue, albeit without pay for the workers involved. Travel disruptions, including airport delays and cancellations, were reported during the last shutdown when flight reductions were mandated at several airports. This shutdown could mirror those issues, affecting millions of travelers.
Federal workers make up a large segment of the entities impacted by shutdowns. Currently, an estimated 2.2 million civilian federal employees are vulnerable, with a significant portion potentially working without pay if the shutdown occurs. Although federal workers are promised back pay, it remains uncertain how funding will be allocated during this impasse.
Moreover, the economic consequences of a shutdown can be quite severe. A prolonged government closure can stall economic growth, as seen during the 2018-2019 shutdown, which resulted in a $3 billion loss. Just as alarming, delays in tax revenue collection and other economic reports can obscure the overall health of the economy during critical calendar periods like tax season.
The U.S. Travel Association recently highlighted the far-reaching implications of a government shutdown on the travel economy, emphasizing that flight delays and airport congestion can have ripple effects across many sectors. Such outcomes could be a significant blow to the nation’s economic stability, making a resolution imperative.
As both parties navigate these negotiations, the hope is that lawmakers will prioritize the needs of federal workers and the broader implications for the economy to ultimately reach a resolution and avert the negative impacts of a government shutdown.