US House Votes to Fund Homeland Security, Ending Longest Shutdown
TL/DR –
The US House of Representatives has ended the longest government agency shutdown in history by voting to fund much of the Department of Homeland Security, excluding immigration enforcement operations. The Republican-controlled chamber approved a bipartisan measure to fund much of the department, including the Secret Service and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), but leaving out key immigration enforcement arms like Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. The vote followed days of mounting pressure on House Speaker Mike Johnson, whose majority failed to break the deadlock caused by conservative Republicans demanding that any funding deal should be tied to a long-term plan to fund the White House’s immigration crackdown.
The US House of Representatives Ends Homeland Security Shutdown
The US House of Representatives has voted to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and end the longest government shutdown in history, excluding immigration enforcement. The deal struck aims to end the 75-day standstill that risked airport chaos and revealed tensions within the GOP.
In a prompt vote, the GOP-led chamber approved a bipartisan measure to fund the DHS, including the Secret Service and TSA. The funding bill heads to President Trump for approval.
However, this bill does not cover key immigration enforcement branches like the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), leaving the fierce dispute over Trump’s deportation plan to continue.
After facing constant pressure, House speaker, Mike Johnson, succeeded in breaking the impasse. The bill had been stalling in the House, as conservative Republicans insisted that any funding deal be tied to a long-term plan to finance Trump’s immigration crackdown.
On Wednesday, House Republicans passed a budget resolution to provide $70bn for immigration enforcement through a separate process without Democrat support. This maneuver paved the way for the homeland security measure to pass the next day.
In the recent past, White House warnings that diverted funds to keep frontline staff paid were nearing depletion caused significant tension. These warnings caused concern, especially amidst fears of potential airport disruptions.
Democrats, however, held their ground and refused to support funding for immigration enforcement agencies without reforms to detention and deportation policies, only adding to the tension.
In spite of averting the immediate crisis, a more significant conflict over Trump’s severe immigration strategy and its funding has merely been postponed. Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator for South Carolina, expressed his relief over social media after the House passed the DHS funding bill.
—
Read More US Political News