As a partial federal government shutdown entered its first full day Saturday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats will not help Republicans accelerate passage of a Senate-approved funding package, signaling the shutdown is likely to last longer than initially expected.
Jeffries confirmed his party’s position during an interview Saturday on MSNBC, saying Democrats would not provide the votes needed to fast-track the legislation in the House.
The Senate on Friday passed a revised funding plan that separates Department of Homeland Security funding from a broader spending package. Under the deal reached with the White House, DHS would receive a two-week funding extension while lawmakers negotiate Democratic demands for restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including requirements for agents to wear body cameras and avoid masks during operations.
House Speaker Mike Johnson had initially been expected to bring the Senate measure directly to the House floor on Monday under suspension of the rules, a procedure requiring a two-thirds majority. Without Democratic support, that path is no longer viable.
Instead, Johnson will first route the bill through the House Rules Committee, allowing Republicans to attempt passage with a simple majority. The committee announced Saturday that it will mark up the Senate-passed funding package Monday at 4 p.m., the first of several procedural steps before a full House vote can take place.
A House GOP leadership source told ABC News that a final vote to end the partial shutdown is now expected Tuesday, though the timeline could slip. Multiple procedural hurdles remain, and it is unclear whether Johnson has enough Republican support to advance the bill, given the party’s narrow majority.
With negotiations stalled and no immediate path to passage, the shutdown is now expected to extend beyond the weekend.
























