WASHINGTON (AFP) — U.S. President Donald Trump issued an urgent appeal on Monday, calling upon the House of Representatives to promptly pass a critical spending bill and terminate the ongoing three-day federal government shutdown. The legislative impasse stemmed from a breakdown in bipartisan negotiations, triggered by Democratic outrage over the fatal shooting of two protesters in Minneapolis by federal immigration agents.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump emphasized the necessity of immediate action: “I hope all Republicans and Democrats will join me in supporting this Bill, and send it to my desk WITHOUT DELAY.” He further cautioned against prolonged delays, referencing the record 43-day shutdown last summer, stating, “We cannot have another long, pointless, and destructive Shutdown that will hurt our Country so badly.”
The Senate had previously advanced a legislative package late Friday, which included five funding bills to finance most federal agencies through September. Additionally, a two-week stopgap measure was approved to maintain operations at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) while lawmakers continue contentious negotiations on immigration enforcement policy.
However, the path forward in the House remains fraught with political challenges. Several conservative Republicans have expressed strong opposition to the Senate-backed deal, threatening to vote against it. This places House Speaker Mike Johnson, who leads a razor-thin Republican majority, in a precarious position. Johnson expressed optimism on Fox News Sunday, stating, “We’ll get all this done by Tuesday; I’m convinced.”
His task was complicated further on Monday with the swearing-in of a new Democratic member from Texas, reducing the GOP’s already narrow margin. Potential Republican defections could force Speaker Johnson to seek Democratic support to pass the funding bill and conclude the shutdown.
Should the House approve the Senate’s proposal, legislators would then face a tight two-week deadline to negotiate a comprehensive, full-year funding bill for DHS. Both parties acknowledge the political sensitivity of these forthcoming talks. Democrats are advocating for new restrictions on immigration enforcement tactics, while conservatives are pressing for their own policy priorities. Specifically, House Democrats are demanding reforms to DHS operations, citing concerns over heavily armed, masked, and unidentified agents who sometimes conduct warrantless detentions during immigration sweeps.
A government shutdown results in the temporary freezing of funds for non-essential federal operations, compelling agencies to suspend services and furlough employees without pay or require them to work pending future compensation.