The claim that the USA government will shut down on February 14, 2026, is not true as a confirmed fact. It is a potential risk, not a certainty.
Here's the current situation based on recent reports (as of early February 2026):
✓There was a partial government shutdown from January 31 to February 3, 2026, due to a lapse in funding for several departments after a prior continuing resolution expired. Congress passed and President Trump signed legislation ending that shutdown, funding most agencies through September 30, 2026 (end of FY 2026).
✓However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) received only a short-term extension through February 13, 2026 (via a continuing resolution). This was to allow negotiations over immigration enforcement reforms (e.g., ICE operations), amid controversy following incidents like fatal shootings during enforcement actions.
✓ If Congress fails to pass new funding or another extension for DHS by midnight on February 13, 2026, a partial shutdown could begin on February 14, 2026, primarily affecting DHS agencies (e.g., parts of FEMA, TSA, Coast Guard, etc.). Most of the rest of the federal government would remain funded and operational.
✓ This is not a full government-wide shutdown like the earlier one in January 2026 or the longer one in late 2025. It's limited to DHS-related functions, and essential operations (like border security or law enforcement) often continue during such lapses.
✓ Prediction markets (e.g., Kalshi, Polymarket) show significant odds (ranging from ~50-70% in recent days) of a lapse occurring on February 14, with ongoing partisan standoffs in Congress over DHS policy changes. But no shutdown has been confirmed or started yet—negotiations are still active, and a last-minute deal or extension remains possible.
In summary: The U.S. government is not definitively shutting down on February 14, 2026. A partial DHS funding lapse is a real possibility if no agreement is reached by February 13, but the broader federal government is funded, and nothing is set in stone.
Stay Informed and trade wisely.
