In a vote of 71-29, the Senate passed a critical bill Friday to keep most of the government funded through the end of September. While the Senate cleared the first major hurdle for the bill, the House has already left town for the weekend and is not expected to return to vote on it until Monday. It means the government will be in a partial shutdown temporarily over the weekend.Hearst’s Washington News Bureau confirmed with the U.S. Office of Management and Budget that the partial shutdown begins at midnight ET.The last-minute funding debate is centered on the fight over funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).Senate Democrats are demanding new restrictions on ICE following two deadly shootings in Minneapolis. Some demands include ending roving patrols and tightening rules on warrants.”Masks need to come off, cameras need to stay on, and officers need visible identification. No secret police,” Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Friday. “These are not radical demands. They are basic standards that the American people already expect from law enforcement.”Senate leaders initially agreed to the funding package that would carve out funding for Homeland Security from five other spending bills expiring Friday midnight. The deal will buy lawmakers two more weeks to debate ICE restrictions. President Donald Trump also said he wanted to avoid a shutdown and encouraged lawmakers to reach a deal. However, at least one Republican, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, argued that the problem isn’t solely ICE, but also local governments that are resisting the Trump administration’s immigration policies.”The real problem is that there are 12 states in America who openly defy federal law. Why are we dealing with this?” Graham said, It’s unclear if the bill will make it through the House when lawmakers return Monday. House Republicans have a slim majority to get it approved. If they can’t, the shutdown may drag on even longer.Watch the latest coverage on the partial government shutdown:
In a vote of 71-29, the Senate passed a critical bill Friday to keep most of the government funded through the end of September. While the Senate cleared the first major hurdle for the bill, the House has already left town for the weekend and is not expected to return to vote on it until Monday. It means the government will be in a partial shutdown temporarily over the weekend.
Hearst’s Washington News Bureau confirmed with the U.S. Office of Management and Budget that the partial shutdown begins at midnight ET.
The last-minute funding debate is centered on the fight over funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Senate Democrats are demanding new restrictions on ICE following two deadly shootings in Minneapolis. Some demands include ending roving patrols and tightening rules on warrants.
“Masks need to come off, cameras need to stay on, and officers need visible identification. No secret police,” Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Friday. “These are not radical demands. They are basic standards that the American people already expect from law enforcement.”
Senate leaders initially agreed to the funding package that would carve out funding for Homeland Security from five other spending bills expiring Friday midnight. The deal will buy lawmakers two more weeks to debate ICE restrictions.
President Donald Trump also said he wanted to avoid a shutdown and encouraged lawmakers to reach a deal.
However, at least one Republican, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, argued that the problem isn’t solely ICE, but also local governments that are resisting the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
“The real problem is that there are 12 states in America who openly defy federal law. Why are we dealing with this?” Graham said,
It’s unclear if the bill will make it through the House when lawmakers return Monday. House Republicans have a slim majority to get it approved. If they can’t, the shutdown may drag on even longer.
Watch the latest coverage on the partial government shutdown:
