The U.S. House of Representatives passed a government
funding package on Tuesday, bringing an end to the partial shutdown. The vote
was 217-214, with some bipartisan support. The bill now moves to President
Donald Trump for his signature.
The package funds key departments, including the Pentagon,
Education, Treasury, Labor, and State, through the end of the fiscal year. It
also includes a two-week extension for the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS), giving lawmakers more time to negotiate immigration enforcement reforms.
Lawmakers from both parties remain far apart on immigration
policies. They have until February 13 to reach an agreement on DHS funding. If
no deal is made, DHS could face a shutdown. Agencies like the TSA, Coast Guard,
Customs, Border Patrol, U.S. Secret Service, CISA, and FEMA would be affected.
ICE operations are unaffected, as it already received $75 billion from a
previous funding bill.
The vote in the House faced delays. Republican Rep. Thomas
Massie of Kentucky was the only no vote among Republicans, joined by all
Democrats. The vote stayed open for 45 minutes while some Republicans
hesitated. House Speaker Mike Johnson could only afford to lose one Republican
vote to secure passage.
Democrats, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, opposed
the package. The agreement, negotiated by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
and the White House, separated DHS funding from other departments. It also
allows two extra weeks to meet Democratic demands, such as requiring ICE agents
to use body cameras and limiting mask use during operations.
The DHS funding dispute intensified after the death of Alex
Pretti, an ICU nurse killed in a shooting involving federal law enforcement in
Minneapolis on January 24. Some hard-line Republicans also tried to delay the
bill to push the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship for federal
elections. Several of these Republicans, including Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and
Tim Burchett, eventually withdrew their demands.
The partial government shutdown has officially ended, but
DHS funding and immigration enforcement reforms remain unresolved. Lawmakers
have a February 13 deadline to reach a final agreement and prevent further
disruptions.
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