US House passes $1.2T spending package, ending government shutdown
What's the story
The US House of Representatives has passed a spending package worth some $1.2 trillion, ending the partial government shutdown that had gripped the country for four days. The bill was approved by a narrow margin of 217-214. The funding will cover most of the government's budget for the fiscal year ending September 30.
Presidential approval
Trump signs funding bill into law
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "We will work together in good faith to address the issues that have been raised, but we cannot have another long, pointless, and destructive Shutdown that will hurt our Country so badly." The president signed the bill at the White House on Tuesday, restoring operations at various departments including defense, health and human services, labor, and transportation.
Funding debate
Demand of new mandates for DHS
The passage of this spending bill sets the stage for a debate over Homeland Security funding in Congress. If Republicans don't agree to impose new mandates for the Department of Homeland Security by February 13, it could face another funding gap or temporary fix. "We have a list that we want done, and we aren't settling for half-measures," Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) said, warning that failure to negotiate reform would be explained to the American public as shutting down agencies.