The United States federal government entered a partial shutdown at midnight on Saturday after Congress failed to pass spending bills before the deadline, with disputes over immigration enforcement funding at the center of the standoff. The Senate passed legislation Friday evening that would fund most agencies, but with the House not in session, the shutdown will continue until lawmakers return for a vote expected on Monday.
The funding lapse affects numerous critical federal agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and the departments of State, Treasury, Transportation, Health and Human Services, and Housing and Urban Development. However, the practical impact is expected to be limited given that most federal employees do not work during the weekend, and President Trump has indicated he will quickly sign the funding package once it reaches his desk.
The dispute centers on funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement following two fatal shootings by immigration agents in Minneapolis. Democrats have demanded reforms after Border Patrol agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse and United States citizen, over the weekend. The incident followed the killing of Renee Good, another Minneapolis resident and citizen, by an ICE officer earlier this month.
Under the deal negotiated between Senate Democratic leaders and the White House, five long-term spending bills will be passed while Department of Homeland Security funding will be extended for only two weeks. Democrats plan to use this period to negotiate changes including ending roving patrols, tightening warrant requirements for arrests, imposing a code of conduct for immigration agents, and requiring officers to wear identification and body cameras.
Despite the shutdown, immigration enforcement operations are expected to continue largely uninterrupted. The massive domestic policy bill signed by President Trump last year provided ICE with a $75 billion supplement on top of its roughly $10 billion base budget, making it the highest-funded law enforcement agency in the nation. This funding can be disbursed over four years, meaning ICE operations have substantial financial backing regardless of the current shutdown.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated that a vote will be held Monday to resolve the impasse. The brief nature of the shutdown means most Americans are unlikely to experience significant disruptions, though federal employees at affected agencies will not receive pay during the lapse even if they are required to continue working in essential roles.
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