As of January 30, Congress is once again working against the clock to finalize federal funding. Current funding authority is set to expire, and while progress has been made on several appropriations bills, others that directly affect the national security enterprise remain unfinished.
This puts the government in a familiar but uncertain position. A shutdown is not guaranteed, but it remains possible depending on whether lawmakers can complete the remaining work or agree to a short-term extension.
What Has Been Funded So Far
Congress has already passed and enacted several full-year appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026. These include funding for Agriculture, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, the Legislative Branch, and a group of bills covering Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water Development, and Interior and Environment.
For agencies and programs covered under these bills, operations can continue without disruption even if other parts of the government experience a funding lapse. That distinction matters, especially as attention turns to what has not yet been resolved.
What Is Still Pending
Several of the largest and most operationally complex departments are still awaiting final appropriations. These include the Department of War, the Department of Homeland Security, and departments tied closely to transportation, health, housing, and treasury functions.
Because these bills have not yet been finalized, funding for those agencies expires at the end of the day on January 30. Without new legislation in place, they would not have authority to continue normal operations past that deadline.
Where Negotiations Stand
Lawmakers continue to negotiate how to move forward on the remaining bills. One approach under discussion has been to separate Department of Homeland Security funding from the rest of the outstanding appropriations in order to allow more time for negotiations on broader issues.
A short-term extension, often referred to as a continuing resolution, has been floated as a way to temporarily fund DHS while discussions continue on the remaining departments. If both chambers of Congress approve such a measure and it is signed into law, it would delay a shutdown and keep agencies operating at current funding levels for a limited period.
Timing remains tight, and until legislation is formally passed, the risk of a partial shutdown remains on the table.
What Happens If Funding Lapses
If Congress does not pass the remaining appropriations bills or a continuing resolution by the deadline, a partial government shutdown would begin. In that scenario, agencies without current funding would be required to halt nonessential activities.
Federal employees in those agencies could be furloughed or required to work without immediate pay if their roles are deemed essential. Agencies that already have full-year funding would continue operating normally.
Implications for the National Security Workforce
For the national security workforce, the effects of a shutdown are uneven and depend largely on mission and funding source.
Core military operations and many defense-related activities historically continue during shutdowns. Active-duty military personnel typically continue to receive pay, and critical missions are treated as essential to national security.
Within the Department of Homeland Security, personnel supporting border security, emergency response, and other mission-critical functions are often required to continue working. However, uncertainty around funding can delay hiring, slow onboarding, and pause certain training or modernization efforts.
Civilian employees and contractors may feel the impact more acutely. Contractors tied to affected appropriations can face delayed payments or stop-work orders. Support functions across defense and intelligence organizations may experience interruptions even when operational missions continue.
While shutdowns rarely halt national security operations outright, they introduce uncertainty into planning, workforce management, and acquisition timelines. For cleared professionals and employers alike, that uncertainty can linger even after funding is restored.
A Familiar Moment, Still in Motion
For now, Congress remains in active negotiations. A shutdown is still avoidable, but not off the table. For the national security workforce, the focus remains on mission continuity while awaiting clarity on funding decisions that shape everything from staffing to long-term readiness.
As with past funding gaps, the work continues, but the questions remain until lawmakers finalize the path forward.
