Listen to the article
Congressional leaders are working to end the partial government shutdown that began early Saturday morning, with House Speaker Mike Johnson expressing confidence that the impasse will be resolved “at least by Tuesday.”
The Senate passed a funding bill on Friday that separated Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding from the rest of the government appropriations, creating a two-week window for Congress to debate DHS funding specifically while allowing other government operations to continue.
“I’m confident that we’ll do it at least by Tuesday,” Johnson said during an appearance on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “We have a logistical challenge of getting everyone in town and because of the conversation I had with Hakeem Jeffries, I know that we’ve got to pass a rule and probably do this mostly on our own.”
The path to ending the shutdown has been complicated by House Democrats’ opposition to the Senate-passed compromise. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has stated Democrats will not support the current version of the bill because it provides stopgap funding for DHS during the proposed two-week debate period.
“What is clear is that the Department of Homeland Security needs to be dramatically reformed,” Jeffries told ABC News on Sunday, adding that while the Senate bill is a “meaningful step in the right direction,” it doesn’t go far enough in addressing Democrats’ concerns about DHS operations.
Some House Democrats have taken more hardline positions. Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) declared he refuses to “give more money to ICE agents as they’re violating our Constitutional rights,” highlighting the growing rift within Democratic ranks on immigration enforcement.
This Democratic rebellion in the House marks a notable split from Senate Democratic leadership, particularly Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who negotiated the Senate compromise with the White House. The disagreement between House and Senate Democrats creates additional hurdles for passing any funding resolution.
Republicans now face procedural challenges to advance the legislation. The House Rules Committee is scheduled to consider the Senate bill on Monday, after which it must survive a House-wide “rule vote” before reaching a final passage vote. Without Democratic support, Republicans will need near-unanimous agreement within their own ranks to move the legislation forward.
The partial government shutdown began when Congress failed to approve funding by the January 30 deadline. Federal agencies affected by the shutdown have begun implementing contingency plans, including furloughing non-essential employees and limiting services.
The current impasse centers on DHS funding and reflects deeper disagreements over immigration policy and border security. These issues have been particularly contentious during an election year, with both parties seeking to position themselves advantageously on immigration matters.
For Speaker Johnson, navigating this shutdown represents a significant test of his leadership. Having assumed the role following the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Johnson must balance demands from conservative members of his caucus while finding a path to reopen the government.
The House’s procedural vote on Monday will likely determine whether the shutdown ends quickly or extends further into the week. If the bill clears these hurdles, it would reopen most of the government while providing a short-term extension for DHS, giving lawmakers additional time to negotiate more contentious homeland security funding issues.
Government shutdowns, even partial ones, create disruptions for federal employees and contractors while potentially affecting various government services. Financial markets typically react negatively to prolonged shutdowns, and economists note that extended funding gaps can impact economic growth.
As the House prepares to vote, all eyes will be on whether Johnson can secure enough Republican votes to pass the legislation without significant Democratic support.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
9 Comments
The government shutdown situation is certainly complex, with both parties trying to find a resolution. I’m curious to see how the debate over DHS funding plays out and whether a compromise can be reached by Tuesday as the Speaker suggests.
Hopefully the congressional leaders can put partisan politics aside and work together to end the shutdown swiftly. The American people deserve a functioning government.
As an interested observer, I’m curious to see what compromises or concessions might be necessary to break the impasse over DHS funding. Keeping the rest of the government operating while that debate continues seems like a pragmatic approach.
It will be interesting to see if the two-week timeline proposed is enough for Congress to find a mutually acceptable solution on DHS funding.
While the Democrats’ opposition to the current Senate bill is understandable, I hope they can find a compromise that addresses their concerns while also allowing the rest of the government to resume normal operations. A protracted shutdown serves no one’s interests.
It’s encouraging to hear that the Speaker is confident a resolution can be found by Tuesday. However, the Democrats’ opposition to the current Senate bill is a potential roadblock that will need to be addressed.
Funding the Department of Homeland Security is a critical priority, so I hope the parties can find common ground on that issue even if other aspects take longer to resolve.
The logistical challenge of getting everyone back to Washington in time for a Tuesday resolution sounds like a hurdle, but I’m hopeful the congressional leaders can navigate that and find a path forward.
Ultimately, the American people are the ones who suffer when the government is partially shut down, so I hope all sides can put politics aside and do what’s best for the country.