The听likelihood of a partial government shutdown has increased, as Senate Democrats face pressure to block听Department of Homeland Security funding following the fatal shootings of听U.S. citizens听Alex Pretti and Renee Good听by听federal immigration officers听in听Minneapolis this month.听Congress has until January 30 to pass a spending resolution, to avoid shutting down听large portions听of the government.听听
On January 22, the House sent the听$1.2 trillion听appropriations package to the Senate, which included听roughly听$10 billion听for ICE听(full details are in the听previous听blog post).听The DHS funding bill received a separate vote听in the House, narrowly passing by a vote of 220-207. Only seven Democrats voted in favor, as听public pressure mounts to听rein in ICE following large-scale protests in Minnesota.听听
The听package听seemed poised to pass听the Senate with at least 60 votes,听but following the听shooting of听Alex Pretti听on January 24, Senate Democrats have听vowed听they will not fund DHS without new guardrails.听听
Weather-related听disruptions听from the winter storm have complicated听matters;听the Senate vote scheduled for听January 26听has been听rescheduled听until at least听January 27.听Senate Minority Leader Chuck听Schumer hopes to separate the DHS听bill听from the rest of the measures, which have overwhelming bipartisan support. However, even if Senate Democrats can convince听Republicans to听separate听it, the legislation would need approval again in the House, which is on recess until February 2.听All听this听points towards a听likely shutdown听beginning Friday.听
Unlike the last government shutdown, many government operations would remain operational.听Congress has already passed six out of the 12 full-year appropriations bills, which have been signed into law by President Trump.听This includes funding for the Departments of Justice, Commerce, Agriculture, Interior, Veterans Affairs, and the Legislative Branch.听听
More details to come.听