Congress Nears Deal to End Brief Shutdown, Kicks Homeland Security Funding Fight Down the Road

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers are scrambling to end a partial government shutdown that began over the weekend, with the House of Representatives scheduling a Tuesday vote on a sprawling $1 trillion funding package. The move comes after intense negotiations and a last-minute delay, pushing the political standoff into a new week.

The shutdown, which commenced Saturday, was triggered by a deadlock over funding and policy directives for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The impasse follows recent controversial incidents involving DHS agents, including the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, which has fueled Democratic demands for stricter oversight and accountability measures.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced the Tuesday vote schedule after acknowledging that Democratic support was insufficient to bypass standard procedural rules on Monday. "I think we'll get it done by tomorrow," Johnson stated, expressing cautious optimism.

The legislation's momentum increased significantly after former President Donald Trump publicly urged Republican unity behind the bill. "We need to get the Government open... There can be NO CHANGES at this time," Trump declared on social media, a message that carries considerable weight with the GOP conference.

However, the deal represents a temporary fix with a major caveat. While it funds most government agencies through the end of the fiscal year on September 30, it only extends DHS funding for two weeks, until February 13. This short-term extension is a concession to Democrats, led by figures like Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), who argue it provides "leverage to secure the protections that we need for our communities" from immigration enforcement agencies.

The delay sets up a high-stakes confrontation over immigration policy. Democrats are demanding significant guardrails on DHS operations, including mandatory body cameras for agents—a policy DHS announced separately on Monday—judicial warrants for certain operations, and rules prohibiting officers from wearing masks during public engagements.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) acknowledged the coming clash, noting that issues like mask mandates and "sanctuary" city policies are "very controversial" and will require direct negotiation between the White House and Senate Democrats.

The political calculus is razor-thin. A recent special election loss for Republicans has narrowed the GOP's House majority to just 218-214, meaning Speaker Johnson can afford only a single defection on party-line votes. While some Democrats, like Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), are urging opposition to the bill over accountability concerns, others appear ready to support the stopgap measure to avoid a prolonged shutdown.

Voices from the Public

We asked for reactions to the ongoing shutdown and the proposed deal:

David Chen, 42, Federal Contractor (Arlington, VA): "This last-minute brinksmanship is exhausting. A two-week patch for DHS just means we'll be right back here in mid-February. It's no way to run a government or provide stability for people whose livelihoods depend on these agencies functioning."

Maya Rodriguez, 58, Immigration Attorney (San Diego, CA): "The Democratic demands for warrants and identification are bare minimum accountability measures. After the tragedies we've seen, funding DHS without these safeguards is unconscionable. This stopgap is only acceptable if it's genuinely used to fight for those protections."

James Keller, 67, Retired (Tampa, FL): "It's an absolute disgrace. We're shutting down the government because one side wants to handcuff our border agents? Trump is right to push for a clean opening. These 'guardrails' are just political theater that will make us less safe. Open the government, fund DHS fully, and let them do their jobs."

Anya Sharma, 35, Non-Profit Director (Chicago, IL): "The focus on DHS is critical, but let's not forget this shutdown affects everything from food safety inspections to national parks. The broader funding package needs to pass. Holding the entire government hostage over a single agency's two-week budget is profoundly irresponsible governance."

This report includes information originally published by NBC News.