The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote later today on a stopgap funding bill to end the partial government shutdown that began at midnight Saturday, though Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding remains unresolved, according to congressional sources.
The proposed continuing resolution would fund most federal agencies through March 8 while negotiations continue on full-year appropriations. However, DHS funding has become a sticking point, with some conservative lawmakers demanding stricter border security provisions.
“We’re making progress, but the DHS component is still being worked on,” said one senior House aide who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Leadership wants this wrapped up before markets open tomorrow.”
The current shutdown affects approximately 15% of federal operations, including some immigration courts and agricultural inspection services. This marks the fourth partial shutdown in the past decade.
Analysts suggest the delayed DHS funding reflects ongoing political tensions over border policy. “The House Freedom Caucus sees this as their last leverage point before the election,” noted Georgetown University political science professor Linda Williams. “They’ll extract whatever concessions they can.”
If passed, the bill would still need Senate approval and presidential signature before affected agencies could resume normal operations. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters the administration is “monitoring the situation closely.”