The BareStory
The House of Representatives passed its final set of annual spending bills on Thursday, approving approximately $1.2 trillion in funding to prevent a partial government shutdown scheduled for January 30. The legislation covers the departments of Defense, Homeland Security (DHS), Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, completing the chamber's work on the 12 required appropriations bills for the fiscal year.
Voting was split into two separate measures. A broad bipartisan coalition approved funding for the Pentagon and domestic agencies in a 341-88 vote. This package increases the budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development by 9 percent and rejects various cuts proposed by the Trump administration. Conversely, the bill funding the DHS passed by a narrow 220-207 margin, with only seven Democrats voting in favor.
Democratic opposition to the DHS measure intensified following the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen in Minnesota earlier this month, which authorities identified as involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated that the caucus felt the legislation did not sufficiently restrain ICE. However, House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole defended the bill, noting it allocates $20 million for body cameras and funds de-escalation training.
To secure necessary votes from Midwest Republicans, leadership agreed to establish a congressional council on rural energy as a compromise regarding year-round E15 gasoline sales. The funding bundle now moves to the Senate, which is expected to consider the legislation next week before sending it to President Donald Trump. On Thursday, the President remarked that he considers a shutdown likely, though he did not specify if he intended to veto these specific bills.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
• Operations within the Defense, Labor, Health, and Education departments face continued uncertainty as the President indicated a shutdown remains likely despite House approval.
• Communities relying on federal housing aid may benefit from a 9 percent budget increase for the Department of Housing and Urban Development included in the domestic package.
• Public interactions with immigration enforcement may involve increased oversight following the allocation of $20 million for agent body cameras and funding for de-escalation training.
• Midwest residents may see future policy discussions regarding year-round E15 gasoline sales shift to a newly established congressional council on rural energy.
