Partial Government Shutdown Ended 2/3:
What You Need to Know
President Donald Trump signed legislation on February 3, 2026 to end the partial government shutdown. This was after the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan spending package, following Senate passage on Friday, January 30.
Back in November 2025, Congress had passed a “short-term fix.” That fix expired on Friday, January 30 at midnight. While Congress had already finished the budget for some parts of the government (like National Parks and Food Stamps/SNAP), they still hadn’t finished the rest. With the current shutdown ended, lawmakers have provided two weeks of funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). More updates will be made available as lawmakers convene over the next few weeks.
What will NOT be impacted?
The following programs are funded through September 2026 under H.R. 4366 and H.R. 6938 (signed into law Jan 23, 2026) and will not be affected by a shutdown on Friday:
- Food Assistance: SNAP (CalFresh), WIC, and school lunch programs.
- Veterans Affairs: VA hospitals, clinics, and disability benefits.
- National Parks & Environment: All National Parks will stay open; EPA inspections continue.
- Social Security: Checks will still go out on time.
- Indian Health Service (IHS): Received advance funding and remains fully operational.
What is NOT YET impacted but could be?
- Medicaid (Medi-Cal): Coverage is safe for now. The government already secured funding for Medicaid through March 2026. However, if a shutdown lasts months, California may have to use its own money to keep the program running.
- CalWORKs: This is California’s version of federal cash aid (TANF). If a shutdown lasts into late February or March, the state could eventually run out of federal money and would need to decide whether to use emergency state funds.
What WILL be impacted?
- Military Pay & Defense: Service members will receive their scheduled paycheck on Friday, January 30. However, the mid-month paycheck on February 13 is at risk. If a shutdown occurs, troops will stay on duty but will not be paid until a budget is passed. Note: Military housing and construction are already funded and safe.
- Covered California (Health Insurance Marketplace): Your insurance plan will not be cancelled, but the cost is currently at a “peak.” The extra federal help (enhanced tax credits) technically expired on Dec 31, 2025. A deal to lower those prices back down is currently stalled by the shutdown.
- Medicare (Health Insurance for Seniors/People with Disabilities): While your coverage stays active and doctors will still be paid, there are two risks:
- Telehealth from Home: Rules for non-mental health visits expire on January 31.
- Support: Casework, card replacements, and resolving billing issues will be delayed as 47% of CMS staff face furlough.
- Social Security Support: While checks arrive on time, new cards will not be sent, and complex benefit disputes will be paused. SSA plans to furlough approx. 12% of staff suspending most non-payment related casework.
- Education & Student Loans:
- Student Aid: Pell Grants and Direct Loans will be disbursed, but 90% of Department of Education staff and 85% of Federal Student Aid staff face furlough. Technical support will be unavailable.
- K-12 & Special Education: Current school year funding (Title I and IDEA) is already with states, but federal oversight and new grant-making are paused.
- NIH & CDC: NIH expects to furlough 75% of its staff, halting most new research. CDC will furlough 64% of its staff, reducing public health hotlines.
- Air Travel: Air traffic controllers and TSA agents will work without pay. This could cause major delays at airports.