The US House of Representatives voted 217-214 on Tuesday (February 3) to approve the government’s funding package, effectively ending the brief federal government shutdown that began on Saturday (January 31). The legislation will now go to President Donald Trump, who has said he will sign it “immediately.”
The broad spending bill funds 11 of the 12 annual bills through Sept. 30, ensuring that most federal agencies will continue to operate throughout the fiscal year.
The only exception is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is being funded temporarily until February 13 to allow for further negotiations on immigration enforcement policy.
Temporary DHS funding to allow negotiations
The DHS funding provision was separated from the larger package amid an intense debate over immigration enforcement reforms. House lawmakers agreed to a two-week extension of DHS funding, creating a frantic 10-day window for Congress to negotiate a broader deal on DHS and immigration policy before a new Feb. 13 deadline.
The limited extension reflects a compromise reached after Democrats refused to support full-year funding for DHS without changes to policies governing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), particularly after widespread criticism of federal immigration enforcement after two US citizens were fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis.