Washington, DC [US], January 31 (ANI): The US government entered a partial shutdown early Saturday local time, ABC News reported, after lawmakers failed to complete approval of revised government funding legislation before the deadline.
The shutdown took effect hours after the Senate met at the last minute to approve a revised package of government funding bills. However, according to ABC News, the House of Representatives is not expected to take up the changes until at least Monday.
On Friday, the Senate voted to separate extended funding for the Department of Homeland Security after reaching an agreement with the White House to delay the issue for two weeks. The delay is intended to allow negotiations on Democratic demands for new restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including requirements that agents wear body cameras and refrain from wearing masks.
The Senate vote was 71–29, with five Republicans voting against the measure: Senators Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Ron Johnson, and Rick Scott. The bill now heads to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to bring the package to the floor. Under House rules, the legislation will require a two-thirds majority to pass.
The measure will need strong bipartisan support to reach the desk of President Donald Trump, ABC News reported.
The path to the Senate vote was cleared earlier Friday when Republican Senator Lindsey Graham lifted his hold on the legislation after receiving a commitment from Senate Majority Leader John Thune to schedule a vote in the coming weeks on banning sanctuary cities.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer highlighted Democratic concerns over ICE operations, saying the current situation is unacceptable and must change. He urged Republican lawmakers to join Democrats in enacting what he described as real and meaningful reforms.
Schumer warned that without substantive changes, Democrats should not be expected to support the legislation, adding that only a few days remain to deliver progress as the nation closely watches developments in Washington.
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