Short Partial Government Shutdown Expected for DOD, SSA, MSPB — No Shutdown for USACE, NASA, EPA, NOAA, DOE, Leg. Branch
Starting at 12:01 am EST on Saturday, January 31, the U.S. federal government will be in a partial government shutdown.
The partial shutdown will affect the following agencies where IFPTE members work: Department of the Navy, Department of the Army (but not USACE), Defense Logistics Agency, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, SSA, and the MSPB. The following agencies where IFPTE members work will not be affected: USACE, NASA, NOAA, DOJ, EPA, DOE, and DOI.
This partial government shutdown is expected to end early next week, as early as Monday. Senate Democrats and the White House have an agreement in place to fund all Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) appropriations bills except the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Under this agreement, DHS would be funded on a short-term continuing resolution while outstanding issues are resolved. The agreement reflects the approach that IFPTE requested Senators adopt.
The partial government is expected to continue through this weekend and conclude on Monday once the following occurs:
The Senate passes the following FY26 appropriations bills in a 5-bill package: Defense, Labor and Health and Human Services, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, National Security and State, Financial Services and General Government (expected Friday).
The Senate also passes a continuing resolution for Homeland Security funding, to allow for Congress to negotiate for urgent reforms, oversight, and funding adjustments to the FY26 Homeland Security appropriations bill (expected Friday).
The House passes the 5-bill package and the Homeland Security continuing resolution (expected Sunday or Monday).
The House and Senate negotiate new legislation or make changes to FY26 Homeland Security appropriations bill (expected in the next two weeks).
Given that the House is not in session until Monday, the partial shutdown will continue through Monday, at least.
If a shutdown begins, the most important rule for federal employees is this: unless you receive written notice instructing you to stay home, you should report to work and obtain confirmation that you are furloughed. This helps prevent misunderstandings and protects against any claims of unauthorized absence.
Background on FY26 Funding Bills
The short-term funding bill that Congress passed on November 12 (H.R. 5371) funds the government through January 30; that short-term bill included full-year FY26 funding for the Legislative Branch, Agriculture Department, Military Construction programs, and Veterans Affairs and related agencies. In January, Congress also passed FY26 appropriations to fund Commerce, Justice, and Science Agencies; Energy and Water Development Agencies; and Interior and Environment (H.R. 6938).
Also in January, the House passed a two-bill “minibus” appropriations package that includes the FY26 National Security and State Department funding (H.R. 4779), a three-bill minibus that includes FY funding for Defense, Labor and Health and Human Services, and Transportation and Housing and Urban Development funding (H.R. 7148), and Homeland Security funding (H.R. 7149). All bills passed with strong bipartisan support except the Homeland Security funding bill, which the House considered separately due to objections from House Democrats regarding the need for oversight and accountability for DHS immigration enforcement operations.
These six House-passed bills were sent to the Senate as a package and meant to be voted on as a package. However, between the time the House passed these bills and the Senate began consideration, DHS immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis killed Alex Pretti, a VA nurse and AFGE member, which was immediately followed by DHS and Administration statements calling Pretti a “terrorist” and concerns that the federal government would not conduct a fair investigation into Pretti’s killing or the killing of Renee Good, a Minneapolis resident killed by DHS immigration enforcement agents in early January.
As it became clear to the Senate and the White House that the six-bill package lacked the 60-vote support needed for cloture and floor consideration, due to strong objections from Democratic Senators and public outcry, the White House agreed to allow the Homeland Security bill to be separated from the six-bill package. The modified five-bill package has bipartisan support, and the Homeland Security funding — which includes FEMA, Coast Guard, and TSA — will have a short-term continuing resolution that gives Congress time to negotiate DHS funding and oversight.
IFPTE will keep members informed of the latest developments.