The House passed H.R. 7148 on February 3 by a narrow 217-214 vote, ending a brief weekend partial shutdown and funding Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, Transportation-HUD, State, and Financial Services through September 30, 2026. However, the Department of Homeland Security funding lapsed on February 13 after negotiations over immigration enforcement reforms collapsed, triggering a second partial shutdown affecting only DHS and its agencies including TSA, Coast Guard, and FEMA. The impasse stems from Democratic demands for ICE and CBP reforms—including body cameras, use-of-force codes, and restrictions on roving patrols—following the January 24 fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. President Trump has signaled opposition to some Democratic proposals, particularly requirements that ICE agents remove masks during operations.
The House passed H.R. 7148 on February 3 by a narrow 217-214 vote, ending a brief weekend partial shutdown and funding Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, Transportation-HUD, State, and Financial Services through September 30, 2026. However, the Department of Homeland Security funding lapsed on February 13 after negotiations over immigration enforcement reforms collapsed, triggering a second partial shutdown affecting only DHS and its agencies including TSA, Coast Guard, and FEMA. The impasse stems from Democratic demands for ICE and CBP reforms—including body cameras, use-of-force codes, and restrictions on roving patrols—following the January 24 fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. President Trump has signaled opposition to some Democratic proposals, particularly requirements that ICE agents remove masks during operations.
Congress has now enacted 11 of 12 FY2026 appropriations bills through regular order, marking the most significant achievement in over two decades. However, the DHS shutdown remains unresolved as lawmakers are in recess through February 23. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in July 2025 provides roughly two-thirds of DHS's budget through alternative funding mechanisms, limiting furloughs to approximately 8 percent of the department's workforce. Most DHS essential employees continue working without pay, including TSA officers and Coast Guard personnel. Unless negotiators reach agreement before lawmakers return, the shutdown could extend through the State of the Union address scheduled for February 24.
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James Baldwin
(1924-1987) ·Civil Rights · politics
Fictional AI pastiche — not real quote.
"The machinery of government grinds to a halt not over the question of whether we shall feed our children or heal our sick, but over how much violence we are prepared to permit in the name of order. They have discovered, once again, that it is easier to fund an army than to reckon with what that army does to a nurse in Minneapolis—and they call this "bipartisan breakthrough," as though we do not understand that the only thing upon which they truly agree is what they wish us not to see."
100% found this insightful
Mary Wollstonecraft
(1759-1797) ·Enlightenment · politics
Fictional AI pastiche — not real quote.
"When the purse strings of government become weapons in partisan warfare, it is not the powerful who suffer the consequences of shutdown, but the common citizen whose daily bread depends upon orderly governance. How remarkable that in an age of such plenty and enlightenment, those entrusted with the public good still mistake the theater of obstruction for the work of representation—while a nurse lies dead, shot by the very state meant to protect him."
100% found this insightful
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People Involved
Tom Cole
Chairman, House Appropriations Committee (Completed House passage of all twelve FY2026 appropriations bills; awaiting Senate action)
Susan Collins
Chair, Senate Appropriations Committee (Secured 71-29 Senate passage of five-bill package; negotiating DHS reforms through February 13)
Rosa DeLauro
Ranking Member, House Appropriations Committee (Provided Democratic support for bipartisan appropriations package)
Mike Johnson
Speaker of the House (Secured narrow House passage of H.R. 7148 (217-214) on February 3; DHS funding negotiations ongoing)
Chuck Schumer
Senate Minority Leader (Leading Democratic negotiations on ICE/CBP reforms; submitted counteroffer February 10 with three core demands)
Alex Pretti
Shooting victim (Killed by federal immigration agents January 24, 2026)
Organizations Involved
HO
House Committee on Appropriations
Congressional Committee
Status: Completed House action on all twelve FY2026 appropriations bills; awaiting Senate passage
The committee responsible for drafting legislation to allocate federal funds across government agencies.
SE
Senate Committee on Appropriations
Congressional Committee
Status: Negotiating DHS funding and immigration enforcement reforms through February 13 deadline; no agreement reached
The Senate counterpart responsible for reviewing and amending House appropriations bills.
Timeline
DHS Funding Lapses; Second Partial Shutdown Begins
Crisis
Department of Homeland Security funding expires after negotiations over immigration enforcement reforms collapse. Shutdown affects TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA, and other DHS agencies; roughly 8% of workforce furloughed due to OBBBA alternative funding.
Democrats Submit Counteroffer on ICE Reforms
Negotiation
Senate Democrats send revised proposal to White House and Republicans outlining three core demands: end roving ICE patrols, implement use-of-force code, require body cameras and removal of masks. Republicans signal opposition to mask requirement on officer safety grounds.
House Passes H.R. 7148 by 217-214; First Shutdown Ends
Legislative Victory
House narrowly approved Senate amendments to Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, funding Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, Transportation-HUD, State, and Financial Services through September 30. DHS receives two-week continuing resolution through February 13. Shutdown ends after weekend lapse.
Partial Government Shutdown Begins
Crisis
Shutdown began for Defense, Labor-HHS, Transportation-HUD, State, and Financial Services agencies after House failed to vote before midnight deadline. Expected to last only through weekend as House returns Monday.
Senate Passes Five-Bill Package Plus DHS Continuing Resolution 71-29
Legislative Victory
Senate approved compromise funding Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, Transportation-HUD, State, and Financial Services through September while extending DHS funding for two weeks through February 13. Bipartisan vote sends package to House.
Speaker Johnson Pledges House Vote Monday, Trump Endorses Deal
Political Development
House Speaker Mike Johnson told GOP conference he will support Senate-passed compromise and bring it to vote when House returns Monday. President Trump publicly endorsed the package.
Democrats, Republicans, and White House Reach Compromise to Split DHS Funding
Negotiation
After failed cloture vote, negotiators agreed to separate DHS funding from the package. Five bills (Defense, Labor-HHS, Transportation-HUD, State, Financial Services) would receive full-year funding through September 30, while DHS operates on a two-week continuing resolution through February 13. Despite agreement, short-term shutdown appears inevitable as House is in recess until Monday.
Senate rejected procedural motion to advance six-bill funding package, falling 15 votes short of the 60 needed. Eight Republicans joined all Democrats in voting against the package due to DHS funding inclusion following Minneapolis shootings.
Senate canceled Monday votes due to Winter Storm Fern hitting Washington, reducing available legislative days before January 30 shutdown deadline.
H.R. 7148 and H.R. 7147 Received in Senate
Legislative Process
Senate received final two House-passed appropriations bills: H.R. 7148 (Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, Transportation-HUD) and H.R. 7147 (Homeland Security).
Federal Agents Kill U.S. Citizen in Minneapolis
Crisis
Department of Homeland Security agents shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse and U.S. citizen, in Minneapolis—the second fatal shooting by federal immigration officers in the city within three weeks.
House Passes Final Appropriations Bills, Completing All Twelve
Legislative Victory
House passed H.R. 7148 (Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, Transportation-HUD) 341-88 and H.R. 7147 (Homeland Security) 220-207, completing House action on all twelve FY2026 appropriations bills.
Appropriations Committees Release Final $1.2T Package
Legislative Process
House and Senate Appropriations Committees released conference text for final four bills: Defense, Homeland Security, Labor-HHS-Education, and Transportation-HUD, totaling approximately $1.2 trillion.
President Trump Signs H.R. 6938 Into Law
Legislative Victory
President Trump signed the Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy-Water, and Interior-Environment appropriations package, bringing total enacted FY2026 bills to nine of twelve.
Senate Passes H.R. 6938 by 82-15, Sends to President
Legislative Victory
Senate approved Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy-Water, and Interior-Environment package with overwhelming bipartisan support. Bill consolidates three appropriations bills totaling over $60 billion.
House Passes Financial Services and State Department Package 341-79
Legislative Process
House approved H.R. 7006, providing $76.6 billion for Financial Services-General Government and National Security-State Department programs. Bill awaits Senate action.
House Passes $60B+ Appropriations Package 397-28
Legislative Victory
House passed H.R. 6938 by overwhelming bipartisan vote, funding nuclear modernization, anti-cartel enforcement, infrastructure, and grid resilience. Six of twelve FY2026 bills now enacted.
H.R. 6938 received second reading in Senate. Senator Lisa Murkowski filed cloture on motion to proceed, setting up January 12 vote at 5:30 PM to advance the three-bill appropriations package.
House Rules Committee Advances Three-Bill Package
Legislative Process
Rules Committee voted 8-3 to advance H.R. 6938, clearing the way for floor consideration of Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy and Water, and Interior-Environment appropriations.
Cole-Collins Reach Bicameral Funding Deal
Negotiation
Chairman Tom Cole and Chair Susan Collins announced agreement on allocations for remaining nine bills, setting spending below CR levels.
43-Day Shutdown Ends; First Three Bills Enacted
Resolution
President Trump signed H.R. 5371, ending the longest government shutdown in history and enacting Agriculture, Military Construction/VA, and Legislative Branch appropriations through September 30, 2026. Continuing resolution funds remaining agencies through January 30, 2026.
Government Shutdown Begins
Crisis
Federal government shut down as fiscal year began without enacted appropriations, starting what would become the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
House Committee Adopts Allocations on Party-Line Vote
Legislative Process
House Appropriations Committee adopted full FY2026 subcommittee allocations by partisan 35-26 vote, signaling deep divisions.
House Committee Begins FY2026 Markups
Legislative Process
House Appropriations Committee started marking up FY2026 spending bills, beginning the formal appropriations process.
Trump Submits 'Skinny Budget' for FY2026
Budget Development
President Trump submitted an abbreviated FY2026 budget proposal to Congress, setting the stage for appropriations battles.
Scenarios
1
Senate Passes Bills, Government Stays Open Through September
Discussed by: Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, National Association of Counties, congressional leadership statements
The Senate passes H.R. 6938 and the remaining appropriations bills before January 30, completing all twelve FY2026 bills through regular order for the first time in years. This outcome depends on Chair Collins maintaining bipartisan support and avoiding partisan amendments that could derail negotiations. The deal holds because both parties want to avoid another shutdown after the political damage from the 43-day closure. Defense hawks get nuclear modernization funding, Democrats secure social program protections, and Congress proves divided government can function. President Trump signs the bills, and federal agencies operate with full-year certainty through September 30.
2
Short-Term CR Kicks Deadline to Spring, Omnibus Likely
Discussed by: Pew Research analysis of congressional patterns, appropriations experts cited in Roll Call and Federal News Network
Senate floor action stalls as partisan disagreements over defense spending levels, social programs, or policy riders bog down negotiations. With January 30 approaching and no clear path forward, Congress passes another continuing resolution extending current funding levels into March or April. The delay pushes final decisions past the CR deadline, forcing negotiators to bundle remaining bills into a massive omnibus package negotiated by leadership behind closed doors—precisely the outcome Chairman Cole sought to avoid. This mirrors historical patterns: Congress has passed all appropriations on time only four times since 1977.
3
Negotiations Collapse, Government Shuts Down Again
Discussed by: Shutdown warnings from Connecticut Mirror, NBC analysis of partisan divides, Holland & Knight appropriations outlook
Hardline factions in either chamber refuse to support compromise bills, viewing the spending levels as too high or too low. Senate amendments unravel the Cole-Collins framework, and House Republicans can't deliver votes for revised legislation given their three-vote margin. The January 30 deadline arrives without a deal, triggering a second shutdown in the same fiscal year. Public backlash would be severe after the 43-day closure, but partisan positioning ahead of future elections could override political pragmatism. This scenario becomes more likely if unexpected crises or controversial policy riders get attached to must-pass bills.
4
Negotiators Strip DHS Funding, Pass Remaining Bills Before Deadline
Discussed by: Senate appropriators, congressional leadership statements to NBC News and CNBC
Facing Democratic blockade and insufficient votes, Republican leadership agrees to separate DHS funding from H.R. 7148, passing Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, and Transportation-HUD appropriations before January 30. A short-term continuing resolution extends DHS funding while negotiators work on reforms addressing immigration enforcement practices. This compromise avoids a shutdown while acknowledging Democratic concerns about the Minneapolis shootings. Democrats would likely support the stripped-down package given their votes for similar bills earlier in January. DHS would operate under continuing resolution authority, maintaining current funding levels and operations.
5
Senate Passes All Bills Including DHS, Democratic Blockade Fails
Republican leadership pressures moderate Democrats facing reelection in competitive states to break with Schumer and support the full package. The argument: shutting down the government over one agency's funding punishes millions of federal workers and disrupts essential services while doing nothing to address immigration enforcement practices. Several Democrats defect, providing the 60 votes needed to overcome the filibuster. The final package passes with 62-65 votes, similar to the 82-15 margin on H.R. 6938. President Trump signs all remaining bills, completing the FY2026 appropriations process. This outcome would represent a political defeat for Schumer but would fulfill Congress's constitutional duty to fund government operations.
6
Weekend Shutdown Followed by Quick Passage of Five-Bill Package
Discussed by: Senate leadership statements to CNN, NPR, Washington Post; congressional analysts
Government partially shuts down Friday night for Defense, Labor-HHS, Transportation-HUD, State, and Financial Services agencies. House returns Monday, February 2, and quickly passes the five-bill package plus two-week DHS continuing resolution with bipartisan support. Senate passes both measures by Tuesday, ending the shutdown after 2-3 days. This mirrors the pattern of brief shutdowns caused by procedural timing rather than policy disagreements—the deal is already struck, just awaiting votes. DHS operates under CR through February 13 while negotiators work on reforms addressing immigration enforcement practices, body cameras, warrant requirements, and use-of-force rules demanded by Democrats.
7
House Rejects Split Package, Prolonged Shutdown Ensues
Discussed by: Conservative House Republicans quoted in The Hill and Federal News Network
When the House returns Monday, hardline Republicans refuse to support splitting DHS from the package, viewing it as capitulation to Democratic demands. Speaker Mike Johnson lacks the votes to pass the compromise given his three-vote margin. The shutdown extends for days or weeks as negotiations restart. This scenario becomes more likely if conservative members view the two-week DHS continuing resolution as insufficient or if they demand policy concessions in exchange for their votes. The political pressure would mount quickly as federal workers miss paychecks and agencies halt services.
8
House Passes Package Monday, Shutdown Ends in 2-3 Days
Discussed by: House Speaker Mike Johnson statements to CNBC and NBC News, Senate leadership comments
The House returns Monday, February 3, and quickly passes the Senate compromise package with bipartisan support. President Trump signs the legislation by Tuesday, ending the shutdown after a brief weekend lapse. This becomes the most likely scenario given Trump's endorsement, Johnson's commitment, and the overwhelming 71-29 Senate vote demonstrating broad support. The two-week DHS continuing resolution through February 13 gives negotiators time to address Democratic demands for immigration enforcement reforms while avoiding prolonged disruption.
9
DHS Reforms Negotiated, Full FY2026 Funding Complete by February 13
Negotiators use the two-week window to reach agreement on Democratic demands including body camera requirements, warrant procedures, and use-of-force rules for ICE and Border Patrol agents. The reformed DHS bill passes both chambers before the February 13 deadline, completing all twelve FY2026 appropriations bills through regular order—the first time in over two decades. This scenario requires Republicans to accept accountability measures Democrats view as essential after the Minneapolis shootings, representing significant compromise from both parties.
Lawmakers remain in recess through February 23 with no agreement imminent on DHS funding. Trump indicated he would deliver State of the Union on February 24 regardless of shutdown status. DHS remains unfunded, with TSA, Coast Guard, and FEMA employees working without pay. This scenario reflects the deep partisan divide over immigration enforcement reforms and demonstrates how policy disagreements can override procedural urgency.
11
Bipartisan Compromise on ICE Reforms Reached by February 23
Negotiators use the recess period to find middle ground on body cameras and use-of-force standards while Republicans maintain opposition to mask removal requirements. A compromise bill passes both chambers before lawmakers return, ending the DHS shutdown and completing all 12 FY2026 appropriations bills through regular order.
12
Trump Intervenes to End Impasse; DHS Funded by March
Discussed by: White House officials, Republican leadership
President Trump meets with Democratic leaders and negotiates a deal that provides some ICE reforms while protecting law enforcement operations. DHS receives full-year funding, though with modified enforcement procedures. This would represent Trump's second major intervention in the appropriations process after endorsing the January 30 compromise.
Historical Context
1995-96 Clinton-Gingrich Shutdowns
November 1995 - January 1996
What Happened
House Speaker Newt Gingrich and the Republican-controlled Congress clashed with President Bill Clinton over budget cuts, leading to two shutdowns totaling 26 days. Gingrich demanded deep spending cuts and wanted to use Congressional Budget Office projections showing less optimistic revenue, requiring steeper cuts than Clinton would accept. The standoff became personal when Gingrich publicly complained about feeling snubbed on Air Force One, earning tabloid ridicule and political backlash.
Outcome
Short Term
Republicans accepted Clinton's budget after 21-day shutdown; public polling blamed GOP for the crisis.
Long Term
Clinton's handling boosted his 1996 reelection; the episode became a cautionary tale about shutdown politics for a generation.
Why It's Relevant Today
The 1995-96 shutdowns demonstrated that voters punish the party seen as causing gridlock, a lesson that may explain why both parties sought bipartisan deals to end the 2025 shutdown and avoid another before January 30, 2026.
2018-19 Trump Border Wall Shutdown
December 2018 - January 2019
What Happened
President Trump demanded $5.7 billion for a border wall along the southern border, telling Democratic leaders in a televised Oval Office meeting, "I am proud to shut down the government for border security." When Congress refused, the government closed for 35 days—then the longest shutdown in history. Some 380,000 federal workers were furloughed while another 420,000 worked without pay.
Outcome
Short Term
Trump signed a stopgap bill on January 25, 2019, reopening government until February 15 without wall funding.
Long Term
Trump's initial demand failed; he later declared a national emergency to redirect military construction funds to the wall.
Why It's Relevant Today
The 2018-19 shutdown held the "longest ever" record until the 2025 FY2026 shutdown surpassed it at 43 days, showing how budget standoffs have grown more severe. Both episodes illustrate the limits of presidential leverage when Senate rules require bipartisan support.
Congressional Appropriations Struggles Since 1977
1977 - Present
What Happened
Congress has struggled to pass all appropriations bills on time for decades, succeeding only four times since the current budget process began in 1977 (fiscal years 1977, 1989, 1995, and 1997). Twenty-one funding gaps have occurred since 1980, when Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti's legal opinion required shutdowns during lapses. About half lasted three days or less, but several stretched for weeks.
Outcome
Short Term
Most years end with omnibus packages or continuing resolutions rather than individual bills passed through regular order.
Long Term
The breakdown of regular order concentrates power in leadership hands and reduces transparency in spending decisions.
Why It's Relevant Today
The FY2026 process mirrors this historical pattern: partisan gridlock, missed deadlines, a shutdown, and eventual bipartisan deals. Chairman Cole's push for regular order represents an attempt to break the cycle—but with only six of twelve bills enacted and a January 30 deadline looming, history suggests another omnibus may be inevitable.
