The federal government is expected to remain closed until at least Tuesday, as the House prepares for crucial votes on a vital funding package. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has warned Republicans against relying on Democratic support to advance the proposal.
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s ability to garner enough Republican backing for the Senate-passed legislation, which aims to fund much of the federal government through the end of September, remains uncertain. This funding agreement, brokered by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and former President Donald Trump, includes a provision for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for only two weeks, allowing room for further discussions regarding federal immigration enforcement, which Democrats are pushing to reform.
Before the bill can reach a full vote, it must first overcome a procedural challenge known as the rule vote. Democrats are anticipated to oppose it unanimously, and Johnson cannot afford to lose more than a few GOP votes. The Speaker has faced challenges in securing approvals for various procedural rules due to dissent among conservative Republicans regarding the proposed spending plan.
The House Rules Committee is set to meet Monday at 4 p.m. ET to discuss the rule before it goes before the entire chamber. This delay follows Jeffries’ communication with Johnson on Saturday, where he made it clear that his caucus would oppose any attempts to fast-track the bill. Johnson had initially hoped to pass the measure quickly, utilizing a “suspending the rules” process that would require a two-thirds House majority, allowing for a swifter approval.
Just hours before a critical funding deadline passed, the Senate successfully voted to approve the measure, but the House won’t reconvene until Monday to finalize the approval. The lapse in funding has triggered a partial government shutdown.
Many Democrats express opposition to providing even two weeks of funding for DHS, an issue that Jeffries appears to be aligned with, suggesting the possibility of an extended shutdown into the following week. House Democrats plan to convene a caucus call on Sunday to discuss their strategy.
In a recent interview, Jeffries emphasized that House and Senate Democrats share aligned priorities regarding DHS. He outlined several demands, including requiring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to wear body cameras, discontinue roving patrols, and enforce stricter limitations on warrants for searches and arrests.
“We need ICE and DHS agencies to conduct themselves like every other law enforcement agency in the country. … If we’re contemplating a two-week freeze in order to obtain dramatic changes, we need a clear plan to ensure those requests are met,” he stated.
The agreement reached on Friday was partly due to Trump’s and GOP leadership’s swift acknowledgment of Democrats’ demand for a delay on DHS funding, following significant public outcry over recent tragic incidents involving federal agents. The administration is eager to avoid a lengthy government shutdown, recalling the Democrats’ previous opposition last fall that resulted in a 43-day closure over expired enhanced Obamacare tax credits.
Despite the shutdown, not all government functions are affected; several agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, Interior, Energy, Justice, and Commerce, will remain operational, sparing millions from immediate impacts on food assistance. However, prolonged shutdowns can still lead to numerous setbacks, including potential delays for travelers at airports, missed paychecks for federal employees, and disruptions in securing federal loans essential for home buying or small business operations.
The ongoing situation continues to develop, with the hope that bipartisan discussions will lead to a resolution that prioritizes the needs and safety of citizens across the nation.