As the United States federal government entered a partial government shutdown on Saturday, Jan. 31, after Congress failed to approve a deal to keep funding for some operations, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he had enough Republican votes to end the shutdown, Reuters reported. He said once the shutdown ends, the chamber will debate immigration and customs enforcement reforms for two weeks afterward.
In an interview with NBC, Mike Johnson said, “I’m confident we’ll get it done at least by Tuesday. We have a logistical challenge to get everyone into town.”
Traffic problems persist after a snowstorm affected travel in the US Southeast. The Senate passed the spending package on Friday, January 30, but the House of Representatives is out of town.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers have worked to keep the immigration enforcement debate from disrupting other government operations — unlike last fall, when the longest shutdown over a funding deal disrupted normal life. It lasted a record 43 days. Also read | Partial US Government Shutdown: What Happens Next, Will It Affect SNAP, Other Funding?
The Senate-approved deal would separate the Department of Homeland Security from the broader spending package. It would also allow lawmakers to approve funding for the Pentagon, Labor Department and other agencies as new restrictions on federal immigration agents are considered amid uproar after two U.S. citizens were shot dead in Minneapolis.
Republicans have an absolute majority in the House. Mike Johnson said the goal is to fund all agencies except DHS by Tuesday. “And then we’ll have two weeks of good faith negotiations to find out,” he said.
The legislation provides a two-week shutdown for DHS funding, but talks about year-round funding are on hold because of proposed ICE reforms. Democrats are calling for measures such as mandatory body cameras and restrictions on roving patrols and face coverings. Also read | Inside Donald Trump’s US government shutdown in 2025
“I don’t understand how Democrats in good conscience can vote to continue funding ICE when they are killing American citizens,” Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., told “Meet the Press.”
Johnson said he believes the Trump administration will make changes to some DHS practices, but said ICE agents wear masks to protect their own identities and their families.