Washington, Feb 2 (.) The US government, which entered a partial shutdown at midnight on Saturday after funding for dozens of federal agencies lapsed, following days of negotiations between lawmakers amid Democrat party concerns over immigration enforcement funding, will continue to remain on a halt even as the House is set to meet on Monday.
The lapse came as the Senate on late Friday approved a funding package after a bipartisan agreement, though the measure still requires clearance by the House of Representatives, which is due to return to Washington on Monday, as per CBS News.
Under the deal, Congress would pass five full-year appropriations bills immediately, while extending funding for the Department of Homeland Security for just two weeks, to allow further talks for immigration related policies.
The Senate voted on the final passage only hours before the deadline, following consideration of several amendments, with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who had initially objected to expediting the process, ultimately greenlighting the package, paving the way for Senate approval.
If the House acts quickly, the effects of the shutdown are expected to be limited, particularly as there is little appetite for another government shutdown in Washington, amid haunting memories of the 43-day long federal shutdown last year, which led to a collapse in essential federal services, burgeoning prices for basic goods, hammering market shares, and widespread public outrage.
As such, the House Rules Committee is scheduled to take up the Senate-passed package at 4 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, a key step before a full floor vote.
The committee process would allow the bill to pass with a simple majority, though several conservatives have warned they could withhold support for the procedural rule unless their demands are met.
Should the package stall, House Speaker Mike Johnson could bring it to the floor under a suspension of the rules, which would require a two-thirds majority.
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