Government shutdown drags on as Dems demand ICE reforms, House GOP holds slim majority

Congress is a very superstitious place. Temporal markers like Groundhog Day and Friday the 13th can only have legislative resonance on Capitol Hill.

The partial government shutdown will continue until at least Tuesday. This affects 78% of the federal government after Democrats scrapped a multi-bill spending plan last week over concerns about ICE.

The House’s job now is to comply with the revised plan that passed the Senate on Friday. This bill would fund the Pentagon, HUD, transportation programs and a number of agencies through September 30. But he will operate DHS only on an interim basis as Democrats demand reform of ICE.

Many House Democrats opposed the plan Friday, which many Senate Democrats support. This has contributed to uncertainty about whether the House will be able to reopen the government this week. First, House Democrats argued that they were not party to the agreement made by many Senate Democrats to partially fund the government and merely apply a Band-Aid to DHS funding.

DEMOCRATIC SPEAKING TO THE PARTY SAID DHS FUNDING WAS A ‘MISTAKE’ AFTER SECOND MINNEAPOLIS ICE WITHDRAWAL

House Democrats were outraged — though not as specifically — last March when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and other Democrats agreed to help Republicans avert a shutdown. Last Thursday, I asked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) if he and Schumer were in sync this time.

“First of all, this question is March 2025,” Jeffries scolded.

He then repeated examples of House and Senate Democrats’ alignment, from health care to the fall government shutdown. Jeffries then answered the question.

“Yes. Short answer. We agree,” Jeffries said.

Then we added a warning; i.e. February 2026.

“Now, as always, based on the results of the Senate, we will evaluate the bill that comes to us on its merits,” Jeffries said.

Some Democrats liked the funding deal. Moderate Democrats did not want the government shutdown to continue. Bad politics is being made at home. Others adopted the allocations they had secured in the financing package. But progressives have argued that they cannot support any funding bill until they see concrete plans to reform ICE. This says nothing about why some on the left want to defund ICE.

“I will vote no on this funding package. I refuse to send another dime to (White House Counsel) Stephen Miller or (Homeland Security Secretary) Kristi Noem,” said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee.

But Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, planned to vote yes. The bill funds most of the government for the remainder of the fiscal year. And it’s buying time to reach an agreement on ICE.

“If we don’t do this, we won’t be able to put the pressure necessary to make sure ICE doesn’t continue to terrorize our communities,” DeLauro said.

So there may be votes to pass the bill. But the real problem may lie in test voting, known as the rule.

The House must first approve the rule to determine how to handle a bill. If the House accepts the rule, it can debate and vote on the bill. If the vote on the rule fails, the concert ends.

Some Republicans may oppose this rule. And Democrats have made clear they will not assist with the procedural measure traditionally employed by the majority party.

“Republicans have a responsibility to change the rule,” Jeffries said. “If they have too much power, then go enforce your own rule.”

House Republicans are feeling the pressure.

HOME FREEDOM ORGANIZATION DRAWS ON DHS, ICE FUNDS AS INACTIVITY IN MINNEAPOLIS RAISES RISK OF SHUTDOWN

House Democrats were outraged last March when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats agreed to help Republicans avert a shutdown. (Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

“We always work until midnight to get the votes. The process never starts with everyone in attendance,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA).

It’s about math.

The House Republican majority narrowed Monday after Rep. Christian Menefee (D-TX) was sworn in. He won a special election in Texas over the weekend. The GOP majority currently holds a 218-214 advantage. In other words, if every Member votes, the Republican could lose one vote and still pass a bill on its own.

“Will his election make your job a little more difficult tomorrow?” I asked House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as he met with Menefee for the swearing-in ceremony.

“We’ve got a margin of one vote now. So what could go wrong? It’s okay. We’re happy for him. And hopefully the first vote won’t be to shut down the government. That’s not a good way to start,” Johnson said..

“Are you going to make it a little harder for the Republicans tomorrow?” I questioned Menefee.

“I was selected on Saturday and I jumped out of the plane to come here. So the first thing I’ll do is find out what the bathroom is,” Menefee said.

I followed.

“Does this mean a no vote tomorrow?”

“This means I have to consider the issues very carefully and cast a vote that aligns with my values,” Menefee said.

“Good answer!” exclaimed Johnson enthusiastically.

So it all comes down to rules voting. If the House clears this procedural hurdle, it could possibly pass the bill and end the shutdown. If not, there is a problem.

President Donald Trump shared on Truth Social that he hopes for a bipartisan solution to what he called a “long, senseless, and devastating shutdown.”

Perhaps it was fitting that everyone was talking about ending the government shutdown on Groundhog Day. Especially after a record-breaking 43-day shutdown last fall.

Meanwhile, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. He predicted six more weeks of winter. After all these financing fights, when is anyone going to ask Phil for his predictions about the shutdown?

But forget Groundhog Day. What everyone should really be focusing on is Friday the 13th. Like a week from Friday. If the House agrees with the Senate and ends the partial government shutdown, lawmakers only have until 11:59:59 p.m. on Friday the 13th to fund DHS. Otherwise, DHS remains corrupt. Again. This means FEMA has problems. TSA agents do not receive a salary. You name it.

Senate DEMOCRATS THREATEN TO SHUTDOWN BY BLOCKING DHS FUNDING AFTER MINNESOTA ICE WITHDRAWAL

President Donald Trump said he hoped for a bipartisan solution to what he called a “long, senseless and devastating shutdown.” (Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo)

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It’s difficult to resolve ICE-related issues in such a tight time frame.

“Republicans need to take a hard look at what’s happening across the country and realize it’s time to rein in the abuses of ICE,” Schumer said.

Some Republicans agree.

“We should be focusing on criminals, gang members, people with active deportation orders. I don’t think we should be focusing on people who have been here a long time, who are in the neighborhood when we’re taking enforcement action, like grandmothers, etc.,” Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) said on Fox Business. “I think it was a mistake and I think it’s back to haunt us now.”

So there is bipartisan agreement on addressing ICE. However, these reforms must pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate by Friday the 13th.

Only Congress could create such a nightmare.