Washington:
The partial shutdown of the US federal government came to an end late Tuesday after President Donald Trump signed into law a funding deal negotiated with Senate Democrats, overcoming resistance from both conservative Republicans and progressive Democrats amid a bitter dispute over immigration enforcement.
Hailing the agreement as “a great victory for the American people,” Trump said the legislation ensures the continuation of deportation flights, a key priority for his administration that has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats.
Another Funding Cliff Approaches
Despite ending the shutdown, the agreement only offers temporary relief. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) expires on February 13, setting up another potential budget showdown as negotiations continue over Democratic demands to limit immigration enforcement practices.
The rest of the federal government, however, is funded through September 30, the end of the current fiscal year.
Pressure From Trump Breaks GOP Resistance
A bloc of conservative House Republicans had threatened to block the deal using procedural tactics, arguing it included Democratic-backed spending priorities. The standoff ended after Trump personally intervened and demanded party unity.
“The president nailed it down,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, a Republican from Oklahoma.
“I’m glad we are all nails and there’s one hammer.”
The House passed the bill on Tuesday, following Senate approval last week, even though the shutdown technically began at 12:01 am Saturday.
Shutdown Triggered by Immigration Clash
The funding fight was sparked after the death of Alex Pretti, a US citizen killed during a confrontation with Border Patrol officers in Minneapolis last month. Following the incident, Democrats refused to support full-year DHS funding without new restrictions on immigration enforcement.
Democrats are pushing for measures requiring immigration officers to forgo face masks, wear body cameras, obtain warrants before entering private homes, and end large-scale immigration sweeps.
Opposition From Both Parties
The compromise drew fire from both sides:
- Conservatives opposed the bill for excluding proposed election law changes and for including spending increases and Democratic “earmarks.”
- Democrats objected to funding DHS through mid-February without imposing immediate limits on immigration agents.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and senior Democrats voted against the measure, despite it being negotiated by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Minnesota Democrat Angie Craig, who is running for a Senate seat, said before the vote:
“Unless they’re gonna start to bring down the surge in Minnesota for real, I’m not voting for anything.”
Trump Pushes for Swift Passage
Trump urged House Republicans to approve the measure without changes, posting on social media Monday that it should be passed “IMMEDIATELY” with “NO CHANGES.”
Shortly after, two conservative holdouts — Anna Paulina Luna of Florida and Tim Burchett of Tennessee — said they would back down after discussions with the White House, despite lingering concerns.
“I don’t understand why we took the deal that we took,” said Missouri Republican Eric Burlison, citing what he called excessive Democratic-backed spending.
Shutdown Impact Already Felt
Although brief, the shutdown had begun to disrupt government operations. The Labour Department announced a delay in its closely watched monthly jobs report, originally scheduled for Friday. The tax filing season, which began last week, also faced potential disruption, while non-essential federal workers across several agencies were furloughed.