The U.S. House of Representatives is poised to end a partial government shutdown by Tuesday, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), despite a narrow Republican majority and strong Democratic opposition tied to demands for reforms at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The partial shutdown began early Saturday after Congress missed a January 30 funding deadline. It affects only certain operations, mainly those linked to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), while other agencies like the Pentagon, Treasury, State, Health and Human Services, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Education remain funded through the fiscal year under a Senate-passed package.
The crisis stems from deadly shootings of two U.S. citizens—Alex Pretti and Renée Good—in Minneapolis by federal immigration agents in recent weeks. These incidents sparked outrage and led Senate Democrats to insist on separating DHS funding from a broader spending bill. They demanded changes to ICE practices, including mandatory body cameras for agents, an end to roving patrols, bans on face masks during operations, and stricter requirements for judicial warrants.
In response, the Senate approved a compromise on Friday that provides full-year funding for most government agencies but includes only a two-week stopgap for DHS. This temporary measure gives lawmakers time to negotiate longer-term reforms. Full-year DHS funding remains on hold pending those talks.
On Sunday, Speaker Johnson expressed confidence that Republicans can pass the Senate’s package by Tuesday, even without Democratic support. Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” he said, “I’m confident that we’ll do it at least by Tuesday. We have a logistical challenge of getting everyone in town,” citing travel disruptions from a recent snowstorm in the southeastern U.S.
Johnson noted his party’s razor-thin majority—currently 218-213, which he described as a “one-vote margin” for the rest of 2026—makes passage tricky. He plans to use the regular legislative process, including a House Rules Committee meeting on Monday, rather than a fast-track “suspension of the rules” that would need a two-thirds vote and Democratic help. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told Johnson that Democrats would not provide those votes, forcing Republicans to rely on their own ranks.
Johnson emphasized that the plan is to fund all agencies except DHS by Tuesday, then spend the following two weeks in “good faith negotiations” on ICE reforms. He defended some current practices, arguing that agents wear masks to protect their identities and families from danger, and pushed back against certain Democratic demands as unreasonable or risky.
Democrats, however, remain firm in their opposition. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) called himself a “firm no” on the package, urging colleagues to vote against it. “I just don’t see how, in good conscience, Democrats can vote for continuing ICE funding when they’re killing American citizens,” he said on “Meet the Press.” Jeffries stressed on ABC’s “This Week” that reforms—especially on judicial warrants—must begin immediately, not in two weeks, and that the administration needs to “walk the walk” on change.
This standoff contrasts with a longer shutdown last fall over healthcare issues, which lasted 43 days and cost the economy an estimated $11 billion. Lawmakers from both parties appear eager to avoid a repeat, but the immigration debate—intensified by the Trump administration’s enforcement actions—has created deep divisions.
The House is expected to begin addressing the bill Monday, with a vote likely Tuesday. If successful, most government functions would resume quickly, while DHS funding and ICE reforms continue under negotiation. The outcome will test Johnson’s ability to unify his slim majority amid intense pressure from both sides.