Partial Government Shutdown: Update as of Monday Morning 2/2/26

A partial federal government shutdown, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), began at 12:01 am on Saturday, January 31, 2026, due to the lack of passage of the remaining Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills. While this partial shutdown is expected to be short, HHS, and the other affected departments and agencies, are implementing shutdown contingency plans. HHS’ contingency plans can be reviewed here.

The six departments and agencies affected by the partial shutdown are Labor, HHS, and Education; Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; State and Foreign Operations; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. The House passed these remaining funding bills on January 22, 2026, and they were sent to the Senate. There was a holdup in the Senate with debate over the funding bill for Homeland Security. On Friday afternoon, the Senate passed five of the six bills, with Homeland Security extended for two weeks to allow for continued debate.

Because the Senate-passed package differs from what the House passed, the funding bills must go back to the House for passage. The House was on recess Friday and is set to return to session today, February 2, resulting in the expiration of funding and partial government shutdown that began Saturday morning at midnight. According to reports, the House is scheduled to mark up the Senate-passed bill today at 4 pm. It is unclear at this time what the House support will be for the Senate bill, timing of a vote, and ending of the partial shutdown. Actions by Congress to pass this funding will be closely watched.