House Prepares to Take Up Funding Bill Amid Partial Shutdown

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives returns to the Capitol this week facing a high-stakes deadline to reopen the federal government. A partial shutdown began early Saturday morning after funding lapsed for several key agencies, including Defense, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) expressed optimism on Sunday that the impasse would be resolved quickly, telling reporters he is "convinced" the government will be fully reopened by Tuesday. However, the path forward remains narrow as House Republicans attempt to muscle the bill through a chamber where they hold a razor-thin majority.

The Core of the Conflict: DHS and ICE

The current standoff centers on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). While the Senate passed a "minibus" package on Friday that would fund most of the government through September, it only included a two-week temporary extension for DHS.

Senate Democrats demanded this separation following the recent deaths of two protesters during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Minneapolis. They are seeking new accountability measures, including:

• Identification Mandates: Requiring all ICE and Border Patrol agents to wear visible identification and body cameras.

• Warrant Requirements: Ending "roving patrols" and requiring judicial warrants for residential or vehicle entries.

• Transparency: An end to the use of masks by federal agents during enforcement actions.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has stated that his caucus will not provide the votes for a "speedy consideration" of the Senate's deal unless these restrictions are addressed, forcing Speaker Johnson to rely almost entirely on Republican votes.

The Trump Administration’s Role

President Trump has been actively involved in the negotiations, reportedly striking the initial deal with Senate leaders to separate the DHS funding to keep the rest of the government operational.

Speaker Johnson noted that the President is "leading the play call," even as some hardline conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus demand fuller funding for ICE without the restrictions sought by Democrats. To further complicate the vote, some GOP members, led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), are pushing to attach the SAVE Act—which requires proof of citizenship for voter registration—to the funding package.

What Happens Next?

• Monday Afternoon: The House Rules Committee meets to review the funding bill. This will be the first major test of whether Speaker Johnson has the votes to move the package to the floor.

• Tuesday: The earliest expected date for a full House floor vote.

• Impact of the Shutdown: While many "essential" federal operations continue, thousands of federal employees face the prospect of working without pay or being furloughed if the standoff extends beyond the middle of the week.

House leadership is also managing logistical challenges, as a significant winter storm has disrupted travel for several members currently away from Washington.

Latest Developments:

• 10:15 AM: Speaker Johnson holds a private briefing with the GOP conference to gauge support for a party-line "rule" vote.

• 11:00 AM: House Democrats hold a caucus call; reports suggest a growing consensus to block any bill that does not include specific ICE accountability measures.

• 12:30 PM: White House confirms President Trump will meet with border czar Tom Homan this afternoon to discuss the ongoing DHS funding gap.