Labor Department Resumes Services and Data Reporting After Brief Shutdown
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) confirmed that it has resumed full operations as of February 4, 2026, after federal funding was restored with the passage and signing of a new government spending bill that ended a brief partial shutdown. The move comes as funding lapses were resolved when President Donald Trump signed a $1.2 trillion appropriations bill, restoring resources to key federal departments including the Labor Department.
During the funding lapse, some Labor Department functions, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), paused release of key data such as the January jobs report and other labor market surveys. Agencies have now announced that these operations will restart and previously delayed reports will be rescheduled.
According to official releases, all agencies within the Department of Labor — from workplace safety and wage enforcement divisions to employment and training offices — are returning to normal service levels following the lapse in appropriations. This reinstates not just statistical reporting but regulatory, enforcement, and support functions that were deferred during the funding gap.
The resumption of full labor department activities is expected to provide clarity for employers, workers, and markets that rely on timely economic indicators and enforcement of labor standards. Analysts note the department’s quick return to operations underscores the importance of uninterrupted data flows and enforcement actions to broader economic planning and policy development.$BTC
