AT A GLANCE
- The House Rules Committee is scheduled to consider a government funding package today, setting the stage for a floor vote.
- A partial government shutdown began over the weekend after the Senate advanced a bill without Department of Homeland Security funding.
- Speaker Mike Johnson says the House could vote as early as tomorrow, signaling a brief funding lapse.
- Texas’ 18th Congressional District has elected a new Democrat, slightly narrowing the GOP’s House majority.
ICE Funding Emerges as Key Flashpoint in Shutdown Fight
The U.S. House is moving toward action on a government funding bill as a brief partial shutdown enters its early days. The House Rules Committee is set to meet this afternoon to consider the Senate-approved funding package, a procedural step that would allow the legislation to move to the floor for a full vote.
The federal government partially shut down over the weekend after senators advanced a stopgap funding measure that excluded Department of Homeland Security funding. While the lapse has disrupted some federal operations, House leaders from both parties have signaled that the shutdown is expected to be short-lived.
Speaker Signals Floor Vote This Week
House Speaker Mike Johnson, said Sunday that he expects the House to vote on the package by tomorrow. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Johnson emphasized his goal of quickly reopening the affected parts of the government.
The Rules Committee formally added the Senate-approved bill to its 4 p.m. meeting agenda, according to an advisory released by the panel. Advancing the bill through Rules would allow Republicans to move forward without relying on Democratic votes under the chamber’s fast-track suspension process.
Democrats Push Back Over ICE Funding
The funding fight has exposed deep divisions over immigration enforcement. Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, urged his party to oppose reopening the government if it means continuing funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“I’m a firm no, and I’m going to advocate with colleagues that they vote no,” Khanna said, arguing that Democrats should not support ICE funding amid ongoing concerns about enforcement tactics and accountability.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke by phone with Johnson over the weekend. According to Johnson’s office, Jeffries made clear that House Democrats would not assist Republicans in passing the measure under suspension of the rules, which would have required a two-thirds majority.
Rules Committee Path Forward
Because Democrats are not expected to help fast-track the bill, Republicans will now attempt to move it through the Rules Committee. That approach means the GOP will likely need to approve both the rule governing debate and the funding package largely on its own.
Jeffries has said he remains in communication with Senate leaders, including Chuck Schumer, but stressed that House Democrats will independently evaluate whatever funding deal emerges.
Texas Special Election Shifts the Numbers
The House’s political math is also changing. Following a special election in Texas’ 18th Congressional District, Rep.-elect Christian Menefee is set to join the chamber. Once sworn in, the House will stand at 218 Republicans and 214 Democrats, slightly tightening the margin as leadership works to navigate the funding fight.
For now, all eyes are on the Rules Committee and whether Speaker Johnson can marshal enough support to pass the bill quickly and bring the shutdown to an end.
