President Donald Trump signed a roughly $1.2 trillion funding package on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, officially ending a partial government shutdown that had paralyzed several federal agencies since the weekend. The swift action came hours after the House of Representatives narrowly approved the measure in a 217-214 bipartisan vote, bringing roughly 96% of the federal government back to full operational status.
The shutdown, which began on Saturday, February 1, primarily affected the departments of Defense, State, Labor, and Health and Human Services. While essential services and previously funded areas like national parks remained open, thousands of federal employees were placed on furlough on Monday. Following the President’s signature, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directed all affected agencies to reopen promptly, with most employees expected back at their duty stations today.
“This bill is a great victory for the American people,” President Trump declared during an Oval Office signing ceremony. He praised the legislation for cutting “wasteful federal spending” while providing a pay raise for U.S. service members and funding for critical military infrastructure.
Despite the reopening, a significant legislative hurdle remains. The passed package only funds the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for two weeks, through February 13. This short-term “bridge” was a concession to Senate Democrats, who have demanded stricter guardrails on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations following the controversial shooting deaths of two protesters by federal agents in Minneapolis last year.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has already warned that his party will not support further DHS funding without “transformative” changes to immigration enforcement. With the February 13 deadline approaching, Washington is bracing for an intense ten-day negotiation period that could determine whether the department faces its own isolated shutdown.
The resolution of the shutdown ensures that vital consular services and international development programs through the State Department will resume without further delay. However, the looming fight over DHS funding, which oversees visa processing and border enforcement, remains a critical point of interest for those navigating the U.S. immigration system.
