The government is back open after President Donald Trump signed a $1.2 trillion spending bill Tuesday to end the partial shutdown that started Saturday. Most federal agencies are now funded through Sept. 30, and furloughed employees are returning to work with back pay expected.
The agreement only temporarily funds the Department of Homeland Security, setting up another deadline on Feb. 13 and shifting the focus in Washington, D.C., to what comes next.
That looming deadline centers on immigration enforcement and the future of DHS operations.
If lawmakers fail to reach a deal, funding for agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Transportation Security Administration could also lapse.
“What they’ll be shutting down is FEMA operations as we’re cleaning up from the winter storms,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson. “They’ll be shutting down TSA, so many important functions in the Department of Homeland Security is what will be adversely affected by these partisan games.”
The Coast Guard and Secret Service would also be impacted by a shutdown.
Some Democrats say changes to immigration enforcement are necessary before they agree to extend funding.
“Americans are being murdered on the streets by this rogue agency, so I’m not going to play that game with them anymore,” said Colorado Rep. Jason Crow. “If they want to come with firm guarantees and assurances and guardrails, we can talk, but until then I’m going to be a no.”
With both sides digging in, lawmakers now have less than two weeks to reach an agreement or face another funding standoff focused solely on Homeland Security.
