The Week: A Short-Lived Shutdown

• The Kennedy Center will close for two years, which should be just enough time for the Village People to set up their residency.

• As far as government shutdowns go, that wasn’t too painful. From January 31 to February 3, 2026, several federal government agencies reduced their staff because of another impasse on Capitol Hill. But earlier this week, the House, the Senate, and President Donald Trump got together and passed legislation that secures full-year funding for most of the federal government through the end of September. The Department of Homeland Security is an exception. The DHS is currently funded only until February 13, as Democrats, angry especially about the fatal shooting of two Americans in Minneapolis by federal agents, want dramatic change in the department. The Democratic base would not tolerate their party’s refusing to stage a fight. But it’s not right to expect federal workers to do their jobs without pay. Government shutdowns don’t save the taxpayer any money, and they usually leave both parties looking worse. Here’s hoping that a deal to fund the DHS emerges promptly, with reforms but nothing that cripples its ability to do its work.

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• The Kennedy Center will close for two years, which should be just enough time for the Village People to set up their residency.

• As far as government shutdowns go, that wasn’t too painful. From January 31 to February 3, 2026, several federal government agencies reduced their staff because of another impasse on Capitol Hill. But earlier this week, the House, the Senate, and President Donald Trump got together and passed legislation that secures full-year funding for most of the federal government through the end of September. The Department of Homeland Security is an exception. The DHS is currently funded only until February 13, as Democrats, angry especially about the fatal shooting of two Americans in Minneapolis by federal agents, want dramatic change in the department. The Democratic base would not tolerate their party’s refusing to stage a fight. But it’s not right to expect federal workers to do their jobs without pay. Government shutdowns don’t save the taxpayer any money, and they usually leave both parties looking worse. Here’s hoping that a deal to fund the DHS emerges promptly, with reforms but nothing that cripples its ability to do its work.