A partial federal government shutdown began early Saturday after the Senate passed a revised funding package hours before the deadline, leaving final approval in the hands of the House, which is not expected to vote until Monday at the earliest.
Senate Advances Funding Plan, Excludes DHS
The Senate voted 71–29 on Friday to approve government funding through September, while separating out funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Under a deal reached with the White House, DHS will be funded for an additional two weeks at current levels to allow negotiations over immigration enforcement reforms.
Five Republicans voted against the package: Sens. Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Ron Johnson, and Rick Scott.
House Vote Expected Monday
The bill now moves to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to bring it to the floor under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority for passage. That approach would demand significant bipartisan support to send the measure to President Donald Trump for signature.
Final House passage is expected Monday evening.
Graham Lifts Hold After Securing Future Votes
The Senate was able to proceed after Sen. Lindsey Graham lifted his hold on the legislation. Graham said he received commitments from Senate Majority Leader John Thune for future votes on banning so-called sanctuary cities and on separate provisions related to congressional surveillance protections.
“I will lift my hold and vote for the package,” Graham said Friday.
Democrats Signal Uncertainty in the House
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries declined to say whether Democrats would support the agreement, noting that no final deal had yet been presented to House members.
“There’s no agreement that’s been before us,” Jeffries said.
DHS Dispute Fueled by Recent Removals
The fight over DHS funding intensified following the recent death of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse killed in a shooting involving federal law enforcement in Minneapolis. The incident sharpened Democratic demands for changes to immigration enforcement practices.
Schumer Lays Out Democratic Demands
After the Senate vote, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats will push for significant DHS reforms during the two-week funding extension. These include ending roving patrols, mandating body cameras be turned on, and prohibiting officers from wearing masks.
“If our colleagues are not willing to enact real change, they should not expect Democratic votes,” Schumer said, warning that negotiations will be closely watched nationwide.
Schumer said he plans to work directly with Thune to set negotiation terms, emphasizing that bipartisan cooperation will be necessary to avoid a deeper shutdown once the DHS extension expires.
For more on the federal government shutdown, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.