Partial US Government Shutdown Extends into Third Day
The partial US government shutdown entered its third consecutive day on Monday, with no resolution in sight as Democrats insisted on immigration reforms as a condition for any funding agreement to reopen the government.
On Thursday, Senate Democrats and Republicans reached an agreement on a package comprising five spending bills; however, they excluded a sixth bill that would provide full fiscal year funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Instead, the Senate approved a two-week funding extension for the DHS, allowing additional time for lawmakers to negotiate the department's long-term budget.
Democratic Demands on Immigration Enforcement
Democrats are advocating for modifications to immigration enforcement operations, including requirements for agents to wear body cameras that must be activated and prohibitions on agents wearing masks.
The Senate-approved package now awaits approval from the House of Representatives before it can be presented to President Donald Trump for his signature.
Details of the Senate Funding Package
The package includes funding for the Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, Treasury Department, the federal court system, and other agencies through the end of the 2026 fiscal year, which concludes on September 30.
However, funding for these federal agencies expired at midnight on Saturday, triggering the partial shutdown. The immediate impact is expected to be minimal since many government services are not operational over the weekend.
The House Rules Committee is scheduled to convene on Monday afternoon to consider the funding package.
Procedural Challenges and Political Positions
The Senate-approved package must first pass a procedural vote known as the rule vote, which Democrats are anticipated to oppose.
California Democratic Representative Ro Khanna expressed his stance to NBC News on Sunday, advocating against the DHS stopgap funding.
"I just don't see how in good conscience Democrats can vote for continuing ICE funding when they're killing American citizens,"
he stated.
Conversely, Republican leaders remain optimistic about passing all the bills promptly.
"We'll get this done by Tuesday, I'm convinced,"
said Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson during an appearance on Fox News on Sunday.
Johnson also mentioned to NBC that a winter storm could complicate efforts to bring lawmakers back to Washington for voting. The Republican majority in the House is slim, holding only a one-vote advantage.
Context: Protests and Immigration Enforcement Actions
The funding deadlock coincides with widespread protests in Minneapolis, where thousands have demonstrated against Operation Metro Surge, an immigration enforcement initiative under the Trump administration. This operation has attracted significant criticism following the fatal shootings of two US citizens by federal agents.
In response to these incidents, Democrats have called for changes in DHS funding and have pushed for reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protocols, including banning the use of masks by agents and instituting stricter warrant requirements.
Scope of the Department of Homeland Security
The DHS is a large federal department that includes multiple agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Coast Guard, and the Secret Service.
As part of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, thousands of federal agents from ICE and CBP have been deployed to Minnesota.
