Just a quick note on what happened at the beginning of February with the U.S. government shutdown. Four days of federal chaos, from January 31 to February 3, with Trump ultimately signing the budget and reopening everything. Nothing particularly dramatic compared to what he experienced during his first term, but still a reminder of how fragile the American bureaucratic machine is.

The numbers tell the main story: the House approved it by a narrow margin, 217-214, and the Senate had already given the green light. Almost 78% of federal operations were at a standstill, air traffic controllers at home, public employees on forced leave. However, essential services continued—Social Security, national security, everything that cannot be touched.

The real clash was over immigration and the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats were pushing to limit Trump’s immigration enforcement measures, especially after some high-profile incidents. In the end, a compromise was reached—downward, as always. DHS was only funded until February 13—so another deadline around the corner, more negotiations ahead.

Trump celebrated it as a victory, as he always does. The reality is that when Trump’s term ends, these battles over the federal budget will continue to be his daily bread. This is the second shutdown in his second term, much shorter than the 43-day record from the first round, but the pattern is the same: pressure, compromises, triumphant declarations.

Markets reacted well, reducing uncertainty. Trump supporters see it as pragmatism, critics see it as the usual theater. Meanwhile, federal employees wait for back pay, and everyone is already looking toward February 13. The machine keeps going.