The homeland security secretary, Markwayne Mullin. His department was left unfunded as lawmakers wrangled over US immigration enforcement oversight. Photograph: Will Oliver/EPAView image in fullscreenThe homeland security secretary, Markwayne Mullin. His department was left unfunded as lawmakers wrangled over US immigration enforcement oversight. Photograph: Will Oliver/EPAPartial US government shutdown ends after Congress votes to fund DHSCongress advances Homeland Security funding after Republicans used procedural tool to pass up to $75bn for ICE and border patrol
A historically long 75-day partial government shutdown has ended after a voice vote in the House to advance funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following a late-night Republican rally to boost a GOP budget blueprint.
The tides turned on Wednesday evening when the House passed the Republican resolution following a last-minute deal over unrelated ethanol fuel provisions that flipped enough holdouts to push it over the line.
That blueprint unlocked a procedural tool allowing Republicans to pass up to $75bn for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the border patrol on party lines, sidestepping Democratic demands for new oversight following the fatal shootings of two US citizens by federal agents in January.
Donald Trump has set a 1 June deadline for a final funding package to reach his desk. The White House has warned Congress that without action, it will be unable to pay most DHS employees from May. More than 1,100 Transpotation Safety Administration agents have so far quit since February.
A separate bill funding non-immigration DHS agencies must still pass before lawmakers leave for recess.
