Partial Federal Government Shutdown Expected
This week, the U.S. Senate was expected to consider and pass the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 7148). The bill would fund the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security (DHS); Defense; Labor; Health & Human Services; Education; Transportation; Housing & Urban Development; Transportation; and related agencies.
Unfortunately, the recent incidents in Minneapolis led the Democratic Senators to object to the DHS funding in the bill without more conditions being put on federal Immigration & Customs Enforcement agents. Due to the Democrats’ opposition, there were not the 60 votes needed to pass the bill. On January 29, President Trump and the Senate Democrats worked out a deal where most of the federal agencies would be funded, except for DHS, which would only be funded for two weeks. This short-term DHS funding will allow the agency to operate while Congress addresses concerns about ICE.
Due to Senate procedure and delays, the compromise bill may not be considered until late on the evening of January 30 or over the weekend. In any case, the bill still would have to be considered by the House of Representatives, which is out of session. So, funding for many federal agencies, including DHS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Fire Administration, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration, may lapse at least over the weekend and force them to shut down.
The IAFC will keep its members informed as Congress continues to finalize the FY 2026 appropriations bill for federal agencies.
U.S. Senate Committee Holds FirstNet Hearing
On January 28, the Telecommunications & Media Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing entitled “Evaluating Progress, Reauthorization of the Federal Public Safety Communications System.” This is the beginning of the Senate’s effort to ensure that the federal FirstNet Authority does not terminate in February 2027. The House Energy & Commerce Committee is expected to hold a hearing on FirstNet on February 4. The IAFC is meeting with the Congressional committees and the National Telecommunications and Infrastructure Administration to preserve the federal FirstNet Authority.