President Donald Trump has signed a government funding bill that ends the partial federal shutdown that began over the weekend and sets the stage for an intense debate in Congress over Homeland Security funding.
The vote wraps up congressional work on 11 of the 12 annual appropriations bills, funding the vast majority of the government until Sept. 30. But there's one more funding fight to come.
The last bill still to be worked out covers the Department of Homeland Security, where Democrats are demanding more restrictions on enforcement operations.
Speaker Mike Johnson says he expects the two sides will be able to reach an agreement on Homeland Security by the deadline.
NEVADA LAWMAKERS REACT
In a tweet on X, Congresswoman Dina Titus, D-Nev., said: “See below for my statement regarding my vote on today’s government funding bill.”
Meanwhile, Congressman Steven Horsford, D-Nev., released a statement explaining his “no” vote:
Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) voted today against the Senate-negotiated government funding package, citing its failure to include basic guardrails to ensure humane, accountable immigration enforcement and protect Southern Nevada communities.
Rep. Horsford noted that he previously voted in favor of bipartisan funding for the Departments of Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, underscoring his continued support for responsible, bipartisan government funding that meets community needs.
“I take every vote on government funding seriously because the decisions we make directly affect families and communities across Southern Nevada,” explained Rep. Horsford. “Over the past several weeks, I have met with students, educators, workers, faith leaders, business owners, and immigrant advocates across NV-04, who have shared deep concern about the fear and uncertainty caused by increased immigration enforcement activities throughout the Valley.”
“Kids are afraid to go to school. Workers are afraid to show up to their jobs. Seniors are afraid to seek care.” Rep. Horsford continued. “This fear is harming our community – and this bill does nothing to address it. I cannot support continued funding to the Department of Homeland Security without meaningful guardrails in place.”
While Rep. Horsford supports other funding priorities included in the package – including investments in local transportation projects – he said he could not support continued funding for the Department of Homeland Security without meaningful oversight, transparency, and accountability measures. Rather than adding tens of billions of dollars to immigration enforcement without clear standards, Rep. Horsford believes Congress should prioritize restoring Medicaid cuts and extending healthcare premium tax credits that help working families remain healthy and financially stable.
“Southern Nevada families deserve policies that strengthen safety, support economic stability, and use taxpayer dollars responsibly,” Rep. Horsford concluded. “This bill fails on all three, and that’s why I voted no.”
Based on direct conversations with students, educators, workers, and immigrant advocates, Rep. Horsford is calling for commonsense protections to be included in any funding package, including:
- Protected community spaces: Clear, enforceable limits on immigration enforcement at schools, daycares, hospitals, places of worship, shelters, and social service providers.
- Limits on data misuse: Strong safeguards against ICE’s use of DMV, health, education, and voter data, along with transparency around surveillance and AI tools.
- Real oversight and accountability: Independent oversight of detention facilities, transparency around arrests and transfers, and reforms to programs that entangle local law enforcement in federal immigration enforcement.
- Due process and child protections: Guaranteed access to counsel, fair bail and bond practices, and policies that treat children as children and keep families together.
The House had previously approved the final package of spending bills, but the Senate broke up that package so that more negotiations could take place for the Homeland Security funding bill. Democrats are demanding changes in response to events in Minneapolis, where two American citizens were shot and killed by federal agents.
Johnson said on Fox News Channel's “Fox News Sunday” it was Trump's "play call to do it this way. He had already conceded he wants to turn down the volume, so to speak.” But GOP leaders sounded as if they still had work to do in convincing the rank-and-file to join them as House lawmakers returned to the Capitol on Monday after a week back in their congressional districts.
“We always work till the midnight hour to get the votes,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. “You never start the process with everybody on board. You work through it, and you could say that about every major bill we've passed.”
Key differences from the last shutdown
The path to the current partial shutdown differs from the fall impasse, which affected more agencies and lasted a record 43 days.
Then, the debate was over extending temporary coronavirus pandemic-era subsidies for those who get health coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Democrats were unsuccessful in getting those subsidies included as part of a package to end the shutdown.
Congress has made important progress since then, passing six of the 12 annual appropriations bills that fund federal agencies and programs. That includes important programs such as nutrition assistance and fully operating national parks and historic sites. They are funded through Sept. 30. The remaining bills passed Tuesday represent roughly three-quarters of federal spending set annually by Congress, including the Defense Department.
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