Additional Coverage:
Partial Government Shutdown Begins as House Deliberates Senate-Approved Funding Deal
**Washington D.C. ** – A partial government shutdown officially began at 12:00 a.m.
Saturday, as funding lapsed for numerous federal agencies including the Pentagon, State Department, and Treasury. This fiscal cliff comes despite the Senate passing a bipartisan funding package late Friday evening.
The agreement now heads to the House of Representatives, which is not expected to reconvene until Monday, leaving the immediate future of government operations in limbo.
The Senate’s eleventh-hour passage, with a 71-29 vote, followed intense negotiations that included a deal struck between Democrats and the White House on Thursday. This agreement involves approving five long-term spending bills and a two-week extension of funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This temporary DHS funding is intended to allow for further talks on immigration enforcement reforms, a key demand from Democrats.
If the House quickly approves the Senate-passed legislation early next week, the tangible effects of this partial shutdown are expected to be minimal. There appears to be little appetite in Washington for a prolonged shutdown, unlike the 43-day impasse experienced in the fall.
Key Details of the Partial Shutdown:
- Agencies Affected: Funding has lapsed for dozens of federal agencies, including Defense, State, Treasury, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development.
- Agencies Unaffected: Some departments, such as the Justice Department, Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Food and Drug Administration, and Environmental Protection Agency, will continue to operate as their funding has already been approved.
- Senate Action: The Senate approved the funding package after overcoming initial objections and voting on several amendments. Senator Lindsey Graham, who initially stalled the agreement, ultimately lifted his hold after securing a commitment for future votes on his proposals concerning sanctuary cities and lawsuits related to the Special Counsel investigation.
- House Uncertainty: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has indicated that House Democrats will evaluate the Senate-passed legislation on its merits and have not yet committed to supporting it. Jeffries emphasized the need for “ironclad path that dramatically reforms ICE and other DHS agencies.”
- OMB Directive: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directed affected agencies to begin executing shutdown plans, with employees instructed to report for duty for orderly shutdown activities. OMB Director Russ Vought expressed hope that the lapse would be “short.”
- DHS Funding Debate: The two-week extension for DHS funding sets the stage for further contentious negotiations. Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed skepticism about reaching a bipartisan agreement on DHS funding within the allotted timeframe, citing “pretty significant differences of opinion.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer affirmed that Democrats will stand united against long-term DHS funding without “strong, common-sense legislation that reins in ICE,” including demands for body cameras for federal officers, bans on masks, judicial warrants for arrests, and an end to roving patrols.
The coming days will be crucial as Washington watches to see if the House can swiftly approve the Senate’s funding deal and avert a more disruptive and prolonged government closure.