The partial federal government shutdown stretched into its third day on Sunday as lawmakers remained deadlocked over Department of Homeland Security funding, leaving thousands of federal workers furloughed and essential personnel working without pay. Speaker Mike Johnson expressed confidence that the House would vote to end the shutdown by Tuesday, though deep divisions over immigration enforcement continue to complicate negotiations.
The shutdown, which began at midnight on January 31, was triggered by an impasse over ICE operations following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis on January 24. Pretti's death, coming weeks after another protester Renée Good was killed by federal agents on January 7, sparked nationwide protests and intensified Democratic demands for restrictions on immigration enforcement activities.
More than 10,000 Federal Aviation Administration workers have been furloughed, while 13,835 air traffic controllers are required to work without pay during the shutdown. TSA agents at airports across the country continue screening passengers despite not receiving paychecks, and the Treasury Department and IRS have indicated they can maintain operations only through February 7 before facing significant disruptions.
Democrats are demanding sweeping reforms to ICE operations as a condition for supporting funding legislation. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries declared that the Department of Homeland Security needs to be dramatically reformed, with his caucus pushing for mandatory body cameras on all federal immigration agents, requirements that officers unmask and identify themselves during enforcement actions, and an end to roving patrols. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced Monday that all officers would be immediately issued body-worn cameras in response to the Minneapolis shootings.
Republican hardliners have complicated the path forward by threatening to block procedural votes unless the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship for federal elections, is attached to the spending legislation. Representatives Anna Paulina Luna and Eric Burlison have both indicated they will withhold support without this provision, potentially denying Johnson the votes needed for passage.
President Trump has pledged to sign funding bills immediately if sent to his desk, while also defending federal enforcement operations amid mounting criticism. The Senate approved a two-week temporary funding measure for DHS on Friday, but the House has yet to take up the legislation as Johnson works to navigate competing demands from his fractured conference.
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