The U.S. federal government entered its third partial shutdown in the last half-year on Saturday after Congress failed to agree on funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), potentially leading to airport delays and impacting the lives of everyday Americans. The shutdown, which began at midnight, comes amid a stalemate over immigration enforcement and President Donald Trump's policies, according to multiple news sources.
The shutdown affects only DHS, where funding ran out at the end of Friday. Lawmakers remain at an impasse over immigration enforcement, with Democrats reportedly walking away from a bipartisan deal to fund the department due to disagreements over Trump's immigration crackdown. The Office of Management and Budget directed DHS to begin implementing shutdown plans earlier Friday, according to ABC News. Members of Congress have since left Washington for a weeklong recess or to attend a security conference in Munich.
Travel groups and airlines are warning of potential disruptions due to the shutdown. Airlines for America, along with other groups, stated in a joint statement that the risk of unscheduled absences by Transportation Security Administration workers increases without a deal, potentially causing flight delays and longer wait times. "Travellers and the US economy cannot afford to have essential TSA personnel working without pay," they said, according to BBC World.
The shutdown is the latest in a series of funding lapses. The federal government previously experienced a record 43-day shutdown last fall. Fox News reported that the current shutdown comes after Congress failed to reach an agreement on all 12 of its annual spending bills.
In other news, the 2026 Winter Olympics are underway in Italy, with competition beginning on February 4 and continuing through the closing ceremony on February 22. The Paralympics will follow from March 6 to March 15. The venues in Italy are six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and nine hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time, according to CBS News. Norway currently leads the medal count, followed by the United States and Italy.
Meanwhile, the search for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, continues. The 84-year-old was reportedly kidnapped from her Tucson, Arizona, home on February 1. The FBI released photos and videos of an armed person in a mask near her home, appearing to tamper with a security camera, according to ABC News.
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