House schedule and procedural hurdles
The House Rules Committee is slated to meet on Monday, the first procedural step that allows debate and amendment of the Senate’s revisions. Floor consideration could follow later the same day or on Tuesday. Johnson indicated he intends to pursue a standard rule for debate instead of fast-tracking the bill under “suspension of the rules,” an expedited procedure that would require a two-thirds majority.
With the Republican conference holding a narrow 218-213 edge, Johnson must hold nearly every GOP member if Democrats withhold support. That margin will tighten once Democrat Christian Menefee is sworn in following his special-election victory in Texas, leaving the speaker with essentially one vote to spare for the remainder of the year.
Democratic demands and likely opposition
House Democrats have signaled they will not assist in accelerating the bill unless they receive firm commitments on immigration-related changes at DHS. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries relayed the caucus’s position to Johnson in weekend discussions, according to people familiar with the talks.
Representative Ro Khanna of California publicly reiterated on Sunday that he intends to oppose the legislation, arguing that additional resources for Immigration and Customs Enforcement cannot be justified while constitutional concerns remain under review. Other progressive Democrats are expected to adopt a similar stance, posing a challenge for the speaker as he counts votes.
Despite Democratic pushback, Johnson stated he is prepared to rely primarily on Republican votes. He framed the upcoming floor action as a test of the majority’s ability to govern and suggested that GOP lawmakers are committed to ending the shutdown swiftly.
Contents of the funding package
The Senate-amended legislation provides full-year appropriations for the Departments of Defense, Treasury, State, Health and Human Services, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation and Education. Those agencies would receive funds through the remainder of the fiscal year ending 30 September.
DHS, however, would be financed solely through the two-week stopgap, giving lawmakers additional time to negotiate policy changes on immigration enforcement and border security. Congress has frequently used short-term measures—often called continuing resolutions—to prevent funding gaps while debates continue. According to the non-partisan Congressional Research Service, more than 100 such resolutions have been enacted since the 1990s.
Impact of the partial shutdown
The current funding lapse affects several discretionary programs housed within DHS as well as smaller offices tied to the covered departments. Essential personnel remain on duty but without pay until funds are restored, while non-essential employees face furloughs. Public services such as airport security and border patrol continue, though extended shutdowns historically strain agency resources and morale.
Previous closures offer a reference point: the 35-day shutdown that began in December 2018 caused delays in federal contract payments, reduced consumer spending near national parks and prompted credit-rating agencies to warn of broader economic consequences if funding disruptions persisted.
Political stakes for both parties
Republicans aim to demonstrate unified governance despite holding a slim majority. Johnson, who assumed the speakership after a week-long internal contest earlier in the term, has emphasized party discipline as crucial for moving legislation. Success in passing the bill without major Democratic support would showcase the conference’s cohesion.
Democrats, meanwhile, are leveraging their Senate majority and House leverage to extract concessions on immigration policy. By refusing to accelerate the bill’s passage, they hope to pressure the GOP to address concerns about oversight of federal immigration agencies.
The stalemate also unfolds amid the early jockeying of the 2026 midterm cycle. Lawmakers from both parties are mindful of public reactions to a shutdown, aware that voter frustration can influence competitive races. Strategists note that blame during past funding lapses has shifted depending on which side controls Congress and the White House.
Next steps and timeline
If the Rules Committee approves a rule on Monday, the full House could debate and vote on the Senate-revised measure shortly afterward. Passage would send the bill to President Trump, who is expected to sign it given his administration’s involvement in negotiations. Agencies would then recall furloughed employees and begin processing back pay, contingent on operational guidance from the Office of Management and Budget.
Should the House fail to pass the bill by Tuesday, pressure will mount for an alternative path. Lawmakers could attempt another short-term continuing resolution, though such a step would require bipartisan cooperation that currently appears elusive. Leadership aides on both sides caution that extended delays would deepen the shutdown’s effects on federal workers and contractors.
For now, Johnson projects optimism. He argues that resolving the impasse swiftly is in the interest of both parties and the public, and he insists that House Republicans can marshal enough votes to clear the Senate package.
Crédito da imagem: Reuters
