House passes stopgap funding bill to reopen government, sends measure to Trump for signature

WASHINGTON, DC: The House on Tuesday narrowly passed a sweeping government funding package to end a brief federal shutdown that began over the weekend, clearing the legislation for Donald Trump to sign into law and restoring operations across most of the federal government.

The measure passed by a 217–214 vote, with Trump pledging to sign it “immediately.” The legislation provides full-year funding for federal agencies through the end of September, with a notable exception: the Department of Homeland Security.

Under the deal, DHS will receive only a two-week funding extension, setting up a high-pressure negotiating window as lawmakers continue tense talks over immigration enforcement policy and oversight following recent controversial incidents involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis.

217–214 vote clears bill for  signature

The narrow margin underscored the fragile arithmetic facing House Republicans, who hold only a one-vote majority. Earlier in the day, Republicans advanced the bill on a procedural vote of 217–215 without Democratic support, paving the way for final passage later Tuesday.

Democrats had delayed consideration of the package by a day after signaling they would not provide the large number of votes required to fast-track the bill on Monday. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, declined to say how he would vote, noting that Democratic members held “a variety of perspectives” on the agreement.

Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., also declined to reveal her position ahead of the votes, reflecting lingering divisions within the caucus.

DHS funding extended for two weeks amid ICE debate

While the package restores funding to most agencies through Sept 30, it places DHS on what lawmakers described as a two-week “leash,” with current funding set to expire on Feb 13.

The brief extension sets the stage for an intense 10-day negotiating sprint as Democrats push for reforms to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. 

 The demands come after the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis, an incident that sparked national outrage and renewed scrutiny of enforcement tactics.

The agreement to temporarily sideline DHS funding while moving forward with the remaining bills was negotiated between Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, and the White House in the aftermath of the shootings.

GOP margin tested in dramatic procedural vote

The earlier procedural “rule” vote highlighted the difficulty Republicans face in moving legislation with such a narrow majority. The vote was held open for an extended period after Rep John Rose, R-Tenn, unexpectedly joined Rep Thomas Massie, R-Ky, in opposing it. 

Massie, a longtime critic of large spending packages, was widely viewed as immovable. Rose ultimately flipped his vote to “yes” after voicing frustration that the Senate had not done enough to advance the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE, Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote. Once the rule was cleared, final passage followed along largely party lines.