The US House of Representatives voted 217-214 on February 3 to approve a spending package that ends a partial government shutdown, with President Donald Trump signing it into law shortly after. The legislation funds most federal departments through September but provides only a short-term extension for the Department of Homeland Security amid debates over immigration enforcement reforms. The shutdown, triggered by disputes following deadly shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis, lasted about four days.
The partial government shutdown began over the weekend after the House recessed, halting funding for much of the federal government despite prior bipartisan approval of spending bills. Tensions escalated following the fatal shootings of US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by immigration officers in Minneapolis last month, prompting Senate Democrats to demand separation of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding from the broader package. This led to a deal between the White House and Senate Democrats, approved by the Senate last week, which the House then debated and passed by a narrow 217-214 margin, with 21 Democrats joining Republicans.
The package includes five full-year appropriations bills funding key agencies such as the Pentagon, Department of Health and Human Services, Transportation, Education, and Housing and Urban Development through the fiscal year ending September 30. For DHS, it provides a continuing resolution through February 13, creating a 10-day window for negotiations on reforms to federal immigration enforcement, including body-worn cameras, prohibitions on agents hiding identities, and requirements for judicial warrants.
President Trump hailed the bill as 'a great victory for the American people,' emphasizing cuts to wasteful spending while supporting critical programs. However, Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, pushed for 'commonsense reform for ICE: End the roving patrols and racial profiling... Masks need to come off, body cameras need to stay on—no secret police.' House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, 'Next week and the week after will be intense. The two sides are pretty far apart.' Republicans resisted some Democratic demands and sought to include the SAVE Act, requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration, but Trump insisted on no changes to avoid prolonging the shutdown.
This resolution follows a 43-day shutdown last year over Affordable Care Act subsidies. While bipartisan support exists for body cameras—DHS Secretary Kristi Noem expressed agreement—broader reforms face skepticism, with another short-term DHS bill likely needed. The package averts deeper cuts requested by the Trump administration, such as a 50% slash to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's budget, keeping funding essentially flat.
