The U.S. federal government entered a technical, partial shutdown at midnight on January 31 after the House failed to pass a funding bill in time. Although the Senate approved a $1.2 trillion appropriations package, the House is not scheduled to vote until February 2. As a result, some federal agencies will halt operations, and non-essential workers may face furloughs. The White House described the situation as a procedural issue, with markets anticipating limited short-term impact, though concerns about a prolonged shutdown persist.