Washington — Washington (AFP) – House Speaker Mike Johnson He said on Sunday that it would take a few days before the government’s funding package was put to a vote, which would guarantee an agreement Partial federal shutdown The week will continue as Democrats and Republicans debate reining in the Trump administration Immigration enforcement operations.
Johnson indicated that he is counting on help from President Donald Trump To ensure traffic. Trump Make a deal with the senators To separate funding for the Department of Homeland Security from a broader package after public outcry Two people were killed by shooting during Protests in Minneapolis Against Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Measure The Senate approved it on Friday It would temporarily fund the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks, setting a deadline for Congress to discuss and vote on new restrictions on ICE operations.
“The president is driving this,” Johnson, a Republican from Los Angeles, told “Fox News Sunday.”
“It’s his theatrical call to do it this way,” the spokesman said, adding that the Republican president “has already acknowledged that he wants to reduce the size” of federal immigration operations.
Johnson faces a major challenge in the future, as he tries to pass funding legislation through the House of Representatives while Democrats refuse to provide the votes to pass it quickly. They are demanding Ice restrictions That exceeds the $20 million for body cameras already in the bill. They want to require federal immigration agents to unmask and identify themselves, and are pushing to end roving patrols, amid other changes.
“What is clear is that the Department of Homeland Security needs radical reform,” he said. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries he said from New York on ABC’s “This Week.”
Jeffries said the administration needs to start negotiations now, not in the next two weeks, on the changes Immigration enforcement operations.
“Masks must be taken off,” he said. “Injunctions consistent with the Constitution should certainly be required, in our view, before DHS or ICE agents break into the homes of the American people or rip people out of their cars.”
All of this forces Johnson to rely on him A slim Republican majority in the House of Representatives In a series of procedural votes, starting in committee on Monday and pushing a potential House vote on the package through at least Tuesday, he said.
House Democrats planned a private conference call Sunday evening to assess next steps.
At the same time, a number of other federal agencies were caught up in a funding crisis as the government entered a crisis Partial closure During the weekend.
Defence, health, transportation and housing are among those given closure directives by the administration, although many operations are considered essential and services are not necessarily interrupted. The workers could remain without pay if the impasse continues. Some may be granted leave.
This is the second time in months that federal operations have been disrupted as Congress steps in, using the annual funding process as leverage to extract policy changes. Last fall, Democrats sparked what became the longest federal shutdown in history, lasting 43 days, when they protested the expiration of health insurance tax credits.
That shutdown ended with a promise to vote on proposals to extend the Affordable Care Act’s tax credits. But the legislation did not advance and Democrats were unable to achieve their goal of keeping support intact. Insurance premiums rose in the new year for millions of people.
This time, the administration expressed interest in resolving the closure issue more quickly.
Johnson said he was in the Oval Office last week when Trump, along with border czar Tom Homan, spoke with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York to reach the agreement.
“I think we’re on our way to reaching an agreement,” Johnson said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Body cameras, which are already provided in the package, and ending roving patrols by immigration agents are potential areas of agreement, Johnson said.
But he said removing masks and putting names on agents’ uniforms could lead to problems for law enforcement officers as they are targeted by protesters and their personal information is posted online.
“I don’t think the president will agree to it, nor should he,” Johnson told Fox.
But Democrats said immigration is out of control and is an emergency that must end in Minneapolis and other cities.
Increasing numbers of lawmakers are calling for it Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem He is Expulsion or isolation.
“What’s happening in Minnesota right now is a dystopia,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who has led the effort to hold the line for more changes.
“Immigration and Customs Enforcement is making this country less safe, not safer today,” Murphy said on “Fox News Sunday.”
He added: “Our focus over the next two weeks must be on reining in this lawless and unethical immigration agency.”