Lawmakers have until end of day Friday to keep government fully open
Following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Democrats take a stand over Trump’s immigration policy.
- Taxpayers are advised to file electronically and as early as possible to minimize potential disruptions.
- If a shutdown occurs, it could lead to reduced IRS staff and potential delays in processing tax refunds.
- A government shutdown is on day 3 as lawmakers disagree over funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
With the 2026 tax season officially underway, the IRS began accepting and processing individual tax returns on Jan. 26, but now we are in a government shutdown.
The United States federal government is currently on its third day of a partial shutdown, which began at midnight on Jan 31, as millions of Americans await tax refunds. The government shutdown threatens federal funding and could result in significant delays, with the earliest possible release of refunds being pushed to Feb. 15.
As the government works to resolve the funding crisis, the Internal Revenue Service, along with Defense, Homeland Security, State, Treasury and Transportation departments, is among those currently without full funding, leaving federal employees either furloughed or working without pay.
Here’s what you need to know about how the IRS is affected by the shutdown.
Will I get my tax refund later due to the government shutdown?
During a government shutdown, the IRS typically operates with significantly fewer employees, which could result in reduced IRS staff, leading to slower processing times for tax refunds.
Essential services like processing electronic returns may be delayed, and returns may take longer to process, potentially affecting the financial planning of many households.
Other complications of a shutdown could include delays in processing paper-filed returns and disruptions in in-person and phone services.
When should I file my taxes?
According to a recent survey by Intuit Credit Karma, 52% of U.S. adults expect a refund this year, and 54% of taxpayers plan to file early to expedite their refunds.
Experts advise taxpayers to file electronically as early as possible to minimize the risk of delays. By doing so, individuals can ensure their returns are processed more efficiently, despite the challenges posed by the shutdown.
To stay informed about any effects on your tax filing process, check for updates at IRS.gov.
Government standoff over Homeland Security funding
One of the biggest hurdles in this ongoing partial shutdown revolves around disagreements between Senate Democrats and Republicans over spending priorities, specifically concerning the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding.
This government shutdown comes on the heels of the killings of two American citizens by immigration officials in Minneapolis in January plunged the spending negotiations into turmoil.
U.S. citizens, 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, was shot on Jan. 7, and 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot during a protest in Minneapolis on Jan. 24 by federal agents.
These incidents enraged many Americans, prompting Senate Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer from New York, to refuse approval of full-year funding for the Department of Homeland Security without implementing new “guardrails” for federal agents.
This standoff over DHS funding has become a focal point in budget negotiations, further complicating efforts to resolve the shutdown.
The procedural vote on Jan. 29 revealed deep divisions in the Senate, as the funding package was blocked by a 55-45 margin.
Democrats, along with some Republican allies, stood firm in their demand for more stringent oversight of federal agents as a condition of approving full-year DHS funding.
Senate and White House agree on a bipartisan deal
In an effort to avoid a total collapse, Senate leadership and the White House reached a bipartisan deal on Jan. 30, with a vote of 71–29, to pass five full-year funding bills, including for the Defense and Transportation departments, while stripping out the controversial full-year DHS funding, according to reports from USA TODAY.
In its place was a two-week stopgap extension for DHS to allow more time to negotiate immigration reforms.
This agreement aims to address some of the controversial issues, including DHS funding, and hopefully bring an end to the shutdown.
President Donald Trump lauded the deal on social media Thursday night.
“The only thing that can slow our Country down is another long and damaging Government Shutdown,” he said. “I am working hard with Congress to ensure that we are able to fully fund the Government, without delay.”
Senate Democrats’ demands to end the partial government shutdown
According to USA TODAY, Senate Democrats outlined three main demands for reforming the Department of Homeland Security, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in the wake of Good and Pretti’s deaths.
First, is the end of sweeping immigration checks known as “roving patrols”. They also demand more accountability for ICE and Border Patrol, including independent investigations and stricter use-of-force standards. Lastly, they want “masks off” officers – and “body cameras on.”
As negotiations continue, both parties are under pressure to reach a compromise to reopen the government and ensure the smooth functioning of essential services.
When is the next vote to end the government shutdown?
The House of Representatives returned to Washington, D.C., today, Monday, Feb. 2, to tackle the government shutdown.
The House Rules Committee is meeting this afternoon at 4 p.m. to schedule a floor vote on the funding package.
Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed confidence that the House will pass a funding package to end the partial government shutdown by Tuesday, Feb. 3.
“Our intention is, by Tuesday, to fund all agencies of the federal government except for that one,” Johnson said, referring to the Department of Homeland Security. “And then we’ll have two weeks of good-faith negotiations to figure it out.”
“We may inevitably be in a short shutdown situation,” he said. “But the House is going to do its job.”
Although the current government shutdown has only been in place for three days, it comes less than two months after the longest government shutdown in the history of the United States, which lasted 43 days from November 2025 to December 2025.
As the ongoing government shutdown continues, concerns are mounting over prolonged disruptions to essential services.
Travis Jacque Rose is the trending news reporter for the Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected]
USA TODAY contributed to this report
