House Votes to End Partial Government Shutdown

President Donald Trump has signed a package of spending bills to end the government shutdown that began Jan. 31, after House lawmakers voted 217-214 to approve five of the six remaining appropriations bills through the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30. 

They also approved a 10-day continuing resolution to fund the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security through Feb. 13 as congressional leaders from both parties attempt to negotiate a deal to rein in immigration enforcement efforts in cities like Portland, Ore., and Minneapolis, where two American citizens were killed by federal ICE agents. 

The Senate approved the package Jan. 30. 

Senate Appropriations Committee vice-chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said Republicans must negotiate with Democrats to end what she describes as an agency out of control. “We are going to have accountability at DHS or there will not be Democratic votes to fund a lawless agency. If Republicans refuse to make the changes the American people are demanding—they are forcing a Republican shutdown of DHS.”  

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is part of the Homeland Security department, could get swept up in any funding gap battles. Agency officials put out a statement on Jan. 31 noting they have been sending resources to Mississippi to supplement state and local-led efforts there responding to the severe winter storms affecting much of the central and eastern U.S. over the past week.

The future of FEMA itself is still unresolved, following recent staffing cuts and questions over whether more of the burden of disaster response will be shifted to state and local authorities in the future.