### Congress Dodges Shutdown Again, But DHS Funding Is Still a Mess
Well, Congress did it again. They managed to grease the wheels just enough to get a spending package through, keeping the lights on for most of the federal government until September. But don’t pop the champagne just yet—there’s a big ol’ mess brewing over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is now hanging by a thread.
This latest deal squeaked by with a tight 217-214 vote in the House. It funds DHS for a whole week, which is like putting a Band-Aid on a gaping wound. Why? Because Democrats are digging in their heels, refusing to back anything long-term until Republicans agree to rein in ICE and Border Patrol. This comes on the heels of two fatal shootings in Minnesota that have turned up the heat on immigration enforcement.
Now, Trump’s ready to sign the deal, which will end the partial government shutdown that kicked off on Saturday. But here’s the kicker: if Republicans don’t budge on new rules for DHS by February 13, we could be looking at another shutdown or a short-term fix. And trust me, nobody wants that.
Rep. Pete Aguilar, a top Democrat, is laying down the law: “We have things we want, and we’re not settling for less.” He’s got a point—if the Senate’s top Republican and the House Speaker don’t negotiate, they’ll need to explain to the public why agencies are left hanging.
Meanwhile, House GOP leaders are deferring to Trump to hash this out. Rep. Lisa McClain thinks he’s the guy who can seal the deal on his pet issue—immigration. “If anyone can get this deal done, it’s President Trump,” she says. Sure, let’s just hope that’s not more of the same old song and dance.
With this trillion-dollar package, Congress has now approved over 95% of the annual funding for federal agencies, and the Pentagon is getting a nice chunk of change. But here’s the fun part: only 21 Democrats voted in favor of this deal, showing just how rocky the road ahead is for DHS funding.
Rep. Jim McGovern isn’t holding back either. He flat-out refuses to send more cash to certain members of the administration, claiming they’re “undermining our Constitution.” Sounds dramatic, but he’s not wrong about the frustration bubbling over.
To keep the peace and align strategies for negotiating with Republicans, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. House Democrats are adamant that they need a seat at the table, especially after they felt sidelined in the recent negotiations.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal points out they’re the ones closest to their constituents’ anger about immigration enforcement. “We need [Senate Democrats] to start negotiating with us instead of caving to Republicans,” she says.
So, to wrap it up: Congress just kicked the can down the road once again, leaving the DHS funding mess unresolved. Will they finally get their act together before the next deadline? Don’t hold your breath.
