UNITED STATES – MARCH 27: Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., and Eric Burlison, R-Mo., arrive to the U.S. Capitol after the last votes of the week on Thursday, March 27, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images)

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Gabe Whisnant

By Gabe Whisnant

News Editor

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The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a roughly $1.2 trillion spending package to end a partial government shutdown, setting up a new round of debate over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The bill passed in a 217-214 vote and completes work on 11 of the 12 annual appropriations measures, funding most federal operations through the budget year ending September 30. Twenty-one Democrats voted for the bill. Similarly, 21 Republicans joined most Democrats in opposing the funding bill that funds DHS for two weeks, through February 13.

The remaining bill, which covers DHS, is still under negotiation as Democrats push for additional limits on immigration enforcement operations after the deadly shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by federal officers in Minneapolis.

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President Donald Trump signed the legislation just after 4:30 p.m. ET Tuesday. “This bill is a great victory for the American people,” he said.

Democratic Representatives Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, right, and Eric Burlison arrive at the U.S. Capitol after the last votes of the week, on March 27, 2025. (AP Images)

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21 Democrats Approve Spending Package

ICE Fight Ahead: What to Know

Difficult negotiations are ahead, particularly for the agency that enforces the nation’s immigration laws—U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York quickly warned Democrats would not support any further temporary funding for DHS without substantial changes to its immigration operations., raising the potential of another shutdown for the department and its agencies.

“We need dramatic change in order to make sure that ICE and other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security are conducting themselves like every other law enforcement organization in the country,” Jeffries said.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana said he expects the two sides will be able to reach an agreement by the deadline. “This is no time to play games with that funding. We hope that they will operate in good faith over the next 10 days as we negotiate this,” he said. “The president, again, has reached out.”

But Johnson’s counterpart across the Capitol, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, sounded less optimistic of a deal. “There’s always miracles, right?” he said to reporters.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after signing a spending bill that ends a partial shutdown of the federal government, in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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House Democrats React to Voting for Spending Package

Democratic Representative Rick Larsen of Washington said the funding vote was about keeping the government operating while continuing to push for changes to immigration enforcement: “These funding bills will create jobs, expand access to education and give a pay raise to service members in Northwest Washington. I will continue to work to make sure our investments reflect our values and that we hold agencies accountable to the law.”

Democratic Congressman Bill Foster of Illinois said backing the package was preferable to a prolonged shutdown, even as Democrats seek tighter limits on Homeland Security: “Today’s vote is a win for Democrats and for the people we represent. This bill rejects the Trump administration’s proposed $163 billion in cuts to public services, protects hard‑won Democratic priorities and funds an additional seven of my FY 2026 community project funding selections—delivering $8.8 million for my district.”

Democratic Representative Stenny Hoyer of Maryland said on the House floor, “I urge my colleagues to vote for them to keep the government operating, to make sure that our federal employees come to work … and get paid for it.”

Democratic Congressman Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey said, "Today’s vote was about three key things: First, to keep the government open to support our seniors, veterans and families; second, to bring home huge wins for Jersey families and communities; and third, to start the clock on two weeks of negotiations on essential reforms to ICE."

Updates: 2/3/26, 7:27 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.

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