Government Shutdown Update
House Speaker Mike Johnson shared his insights regarding the ongoing partial government shutdown, suggesting that it may conclude soon, despite some Democratic pushback against budget provisions for the Department of Homeland Security.
During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Johnson expressed optimism about resolving the situation by “at least” Tuesday. He highlighted the Senate’s recent funding bill that not only separates the DHS funding but also grants Congress a two-week period to discuss it specifically, enabling other government operations to progress.
“I believe we can reach an agreement by at least Tuesday,” Johnson remarked. “There’s a logistical challenge in getting everyone together. Our discussions with Hakeem Jeffries indicate we’ll need to establish the rules and likely proceed with this largely on our own.”
Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries articulated that Democrats are not in favor of the current legislation, pointing out that it only provides temporary funding for the DHS during this two-week negotiation phase.
Trump and Schumer’s Deal Impacts DHS Funding
Jeffries emphasized the need for significant reforms within the DHS, calling the Senate bill “a meaningful step in the right direction.” However, some Democrats, such as Rep. Ro Khanna from California, firmly opposed any increase in funding for ICE, arguing this undermines constitutional rights.
Interestingly, the dissent from House Democrats seems to diverge from the stance of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who played a key role in negotiating the Senate deal with the White House.
Increasing Tensions Over Senate Agreement
In order to move forward, Republicans must first establish procedural rules. The House Rules Committee is set to review the Senate bill on Monday.
Following that, there would be a “rules vote,” typically a procedural test along party lines, before the full House can vote on the final passage.
Skepticism Among House Conservatives About Deal Sacrificing DHS Funding
The federal government has been partially shut down since early Saturday. This shutdown stems from Congress’s failure to reach a budget agreement by the deadline.
