government shutdown 2026
Definition
A prospective or threatened halt of non-essential U.S. federal government operations in early 2026, stemming from Congress's failure to pass required funding legislation by January 30, amid ongoing partisan negotiations.
Refers to the political crisis in January 2026 where lawmakers scramble to approve spending bills following a prior fall shutdown, risking furloughs for federal workers and disruptions to services.
Examples
Congress has masterfully passed three out of twelve funding bills, positioning the government shutdown 2026 as the ultimate test of their time management skills.
With the government shutdown 2026 clock ticking to January 30, politicians are heroically debating Obamacare subsidies instead of, say, actually voting on the budget.
Schumer's bold rejection of another shutdown has everyone confident that the government shutdown 2026 will unfold with the precision of a well-oiled machine.
Trump and Democrats agree on one thing: no repeat of October's fiasco, so the government shutdown 2026 is shaping up to be a fresh, innovative disaster.