The BareStory
A partial federal government shutdown continued on Monday as the House of Representatives returned to Washington to consider a spending package passed by the Senate. Funding lapsed early Saturday for multiple federal agencies, including the departments of Defense, State, Treasury, Transportation, and Homeland Security (DHS). While the Senate approved a measure on Friday to restore operations, the House must now pass the legislation to reopen the government.
The proposal includes long-term funding for most affected agencies but limits DHS funding to a two-week extension. This short-term provision allows Congress time to debate immigration enforcement policies. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated that Democrats would not support long-term DHS funding without reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), such as requiring body cameras and judicial warrants. President Trump has expressed support for the deal, urging a bipartisan resolution.
House Speaker Mike Johnson stated on Sunday that he expects the House to pass the package by Tuesday. However, the legislation faces procedural hurdles. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats would not support fast-tracking the bill, arguing that the DHS provisions require a "full and complete debate." Consequently, the measure must move through the House Rules Committee rather than passing via a suspension of the rules, which would have required a two-thirds majority.
Speaker Johnson acknowledged that Republicans might need to pass the bill largely on their own, a task complicated by a slim majority and internal opposition. Representative Anna Paulina Luna stated she would withhold support unless legislation requiring proof of citizenship for federal election registration is attached, while Representative Chip Roy has made separate demands regarding DHS funding. Despite these challenges, Johnson affirmed the party's intent to "do the responsible thing" and end the shutdown.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
• Services provided by the Departments of Defense, State, Treasury, Transportation, and Homeland Security remain affected by the partial shutdown until the House completes the legislative process, with passage expected by Tuesday.
• If the Senate-passed measure is approved, operations for most agencies will be restored with long-term funding, stabilizing federal functions for the majority of the affected departments.
• The Department of Homeland Security would only receive a two-week funding extension, creating the possibility of another funding deadline and policy shifts as Congress debates ICE reforms and voting registration requirements.
