Government Shutdown Delays Jobs Report, While Trump Announces Trade Deal with India
Washington D.C. – A partial government shutdown delayed the release of the January jobs report, while President Trump announced a trade deal with India, according to multiple news sources. The Department of Labor announced that its report on U.S. hiring in January 2026 would not be released on Friday, February 6, 2026, as planned, due to the shutdown. "The Employment Situation release for January 2026 will not be released as scheduled on Friday, February 6, 2026. The release will be rescheduled upon the resumption of government funding," a spokeswoman for the Bureau of Labor Statistics told CBS News.
The shutdown, which began over the weekend, stemmed from an impasse over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The House of Representatives returned to Washington on Monday to consider a revised funding package to end the shutdown. The House was working to pass a five-bill package to fund the departments of Defense, State, Treasury, and others, as well as a two-week extension of funding for DHS. Democrats were demanding reforms to how immigration enforcement agencies like ICE conduct their operations, according to CBS News. House Speaker Mike Johnson faced the challenge of uniting the GOP conference to advance the plan. Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries reportedly told Johnson that Democrats would not supply the votes needed to fast-track the package.
Meanwhile, President Trump announced a trade deal with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that would lower tariffs on products from India to 18 and halt India's purchase of Russian oil. In a post on Truth Social, the president said Modi also committed to buying American products at a much higher level and purchasing more than 500 billion in U.S. energy, technology, agriculture, coal, and other goods. "He agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela," Mr. Trump wrote. "This will help END THE WAR in Ukraine, which is taking place right now, with thousands of people dying each and every week! Out of friendship and respect f
In other economic news, the housing market remained sluggish despite a slight decline in mortgage interest rates in 2025, according to CBS News. Many borrowers were reportedly in a "wait-and-see" mode, unsure whether mortgage interest rates would continue to drop, remain the same, or climb back up. The 10-year Treasury yield has a significant impact on mortgage rates, which historically run about 1.6 to 1.8 higher, though the recent spread has been greater. Market yields have increased from 4 in late November to 4.24 more recently. Some analysts expected that a plan to buy 200 billion in mortgage bonds could help bring mortgage rates down.
Also, President Trump vowed not to bring federal law enforcement into Democrat-run cities amid protests "unless and until" officials there "ask us" for help and do so politely, according to Fox News. The president announced that he directed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to "under no circumstances" put federal law enforcement inside far-left states to aid in protests unless they ask for help.
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