Trump Pressures House GOP to Back His Shutdown Deal Amid Conservative Revolt
(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump is publicly pressuring recalcitrant House Republicans to fall in line behind a stopgap spending deal he negotiated with Democratic leaders, aiming to break a government shutdown stalemate centered on his administration's immigration crackdown.
In a social media post, Trump implored the GOP-controlled House to pass the Senate-approved measure "IMMEDIATELY!" and declared "There can be NO CHANGES" to the agreement—a direct challenge to conservative holdouts.
The deal, brokered between Trump and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, would fund most government agencies through September and the Department of Homeland Security through mid-February. It maintains funding for immigration enforcement raids while allowing time for broader policy negotiations. House Speaker Mike Johnson now faces the delicate task of shepherding the package through a fractured chamber, where it faces opposition from both the progressive left and the Republican right.
The political standoff has already triggered a partial government shutdown, now in its third day. Key economic data releases are delayed, tax filing services are hampered, and non-essential federal workers face furloughs. Analysts warn the economic ripple effects will widen if the impasse continues.
Progressive Democrats, citing recent deadly raids in Minneapolis, demand new restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) before approving any Homeland Security funding. "Not another cent to ICE until we stop the chaos and the lawlessness," declared Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar (D-Texas).
Meanwhile, conservative Republicans argue the deal compromises core immigration enforcement promises. Speaker Johnson, attempting to bridge divides, suggested a "path" to policy changes like body cameras for officers but rejected progressive demands for judicial warrants for migrant arrests or unmasking agents.
Johnson's initial strategy to pass the bill with Democratic support collapsed Monday when it became clear progressives would withhold votes over ICE funding. He now plans to use a procedural maneuver requiring mostly GOP votes, banking on Trump's influence to rally conservatives.
"The president is leading this; it's his play call," Johnson stated, emphasizing Trump's ownership of the deal. Trump later pledged to address conservative concerns but warned against a "long, pointless, and destructive Shutdown."
Moderates like Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) signal potential support, but the bill's fate hinges on whether Speaker Johnson can assemble a fragile bipartisan coalition without triggering a full-scale revolt from his right flank.
Voices from the Hill:
"This is a classic Washington failure," says Michael Arlen, a political science professor at Georgetown University. "The President negotiated a compromise, then must plead with his own party to accept it. It shows how transactional coalitions have replaced party loyalty."
"Trump is selling us out," fumes conservative activist Rebecca Vance from Virginia. "After all the talk of securing the border, he cuts a backroom deal with Schumer that handcuffs ICE agents. This isn't a negotiation; it's a surrender. Any Republican who votes for this is betraying their voters."
"We have to be practical," counters former House staffer and budget analyst David Chen. "A prolonged shutdown hurts everyone—federal workers, contractors, the economy. This deal isn't perfect, but it stops the bleeding and allows talks to continue. Sometimes governing means taking the least bad option."
"The Democrats are playing with fire," observes Maria Rodriguez, a political strategist focusing on Latino outreach. "Holding DHS funding hostage over ICE policy might energize the base, but it risks appearing indifferent to the operational needs of border security. It's a high-stakes gamble."
--With assistance from Wendy Benjaminson and Kevin Whitelaw.
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