WASHINGTON, D.C. — The federal government kicked off the week partially shut down. Funding for several agencies expired late Friday, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The Senate passed a temporary spending bill ahead of the deadline, but that measure still needs approval in the House — where lawmakers are scrambling to tee up a vote on it this week.
This week, House lawmakers are set to consider the multi-bill spending plan designed to keep several major departments running — including Defense, Transportation, State and Treasury — while giving the Department of Homeland Security only a two-week funding extension.
The DHS funding measure has become the sticking point, with Democrats pressing for changes to how immigration enforcement agencies, including ICE, operate. Democrats have cited recent events in Minneapolis — including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti — as cause for changes to current enforcement operations. Some of their requested changes include the elimination of roving patrols, limiting mask wearing during operations, requiring that body cameras be worn and turned on by federal immigration enforcement agents, and tightening parameters around warrant procedures.
In an interview over the weekend, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., spoke about body cameras as he discussed the situation in Minneapolis, MN, and Border Czar Tom Homan being sent in to take charge.
“What a great step it was to put Tom Homan in charge of the situation in Minneapolis. He has 40 years’ experience, he’s brought a steady hand to the wheel,” said Speaker Johnson. “He himself has already acknowledged to Leader Schumer in the Senate, and I’m sure he’ll say the same to House Democrats, that some of the reforms and the processes are fine with them. For example, we want body cameras on immigration custom enforcement agents. In fact, in the bill that the Democrats are currently rejecting, we put $20 million into that legislation to allow for that.”
There is bipartisan support for the other five spending bills, but House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said Monday that without major reforms for ICE, full-year funding for DHS is in jeopardy.
“ICE and the Department of Homeland Security need to dramatically change. And absent that, then a full year appropriations bill is in deep trouble,” Leader Jeffries said. “Taxpayer dollars should not be spent to brutalize and kill American citizens. Taxpayer dollars should be spent to make life more affordable for everyday Americans – something that Republicans have refused to do from the very beginning of Donald Trump being sworn into office last January.”
A vote on the spending plan in the House is expected Tuesday. Even if the package advances, it sets up another tight deadline for DHS funding. The short-term DHS funding window means negotiators will have just two weeks to find compromise on the administration’s immigration enforcement policies and tactics. If no deal, there could be broader impacts to agencies overseen by DHS, such as FEMA and TSA.
“We’ll get all this done by Tuesday; I’m convinced,” said Speaker Johnson. “Remember, these are the bills that have already been passed, we’re going to do it again… The Homeland Security bill is important, and we have important negotiations. The President is leading this; it’s his play call to do it this way.”
President Donald Trump weighed in, urging lawmakers to approve the plan without changes.
I am working hard with Speaker Johnson to get the current funding deal, which passed in the Senate last week, through the House and to my desk, where I will sign it into Law, IMMEDIATELY! We need to get the Government open, and I hope all Republicans and Democrats will join me in supporting this Bill, and send it to my desk WITHOUT DELAY,” said Trump on Truth Social Monday afternoon. “We will work together in good faith to address the issues that have been raised, but we cannot have another long, pointless, and destructive Shutdown that will hurt our Country so badly — One that will not benefit Republicans or Democrats. I hope everyone will vote, YES!”
