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House Speaker Mike Johnson offered an optimistic timeline for ending the partial government shutdown as Democrats continue efforts to block funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
Appearing Sunday on “Meet the Press,” Johnson said he believes the shutdown could be resolved “at least by Tuesday.” His comments came after the Senate approved a short-term funding measure Friday that carves out DHS spending and gives lawmakers two weeks to negotiate that portion separately, while keeping the rest of the federal government operating.
“I’m confident that we’ll do it at least by Tuesday,” Johnson said. “We have a logistical challenge of getting everyone in town, and because of the conversation I had with Hakeem Jeffries, I know that we’ve got to pass a rule and probably do this mostly on our own.”
Jeffries has made clear that House Democrats will oppose the bill in its current form, arguing that the stopgap approach to DHS funding is unacceptable. In an interview with ABC News, Jeffries said the agency “needs to be dramatically reformed,” though he described the Senate’s proposal as “a meaningful step in the right direction.”
Some Democrats have gone further. However, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has helped negotiate the Senate deal alongside the White House.
Before the legislation can advance, Republicans must first secure approval of a procedural rule to bring the bill to the floor. The House Rules Committee is scheduled to review the measure Monday, followed by a full House “rule vote,” which typically splits along party lines. Only after clearing that hurdle can the chamber move to a final passage vote.
The federal government has been partially shut down since early Saturday after Congress failed to finalize a full-year budget agreement by the Jan. 30 deadline.
A longer shutdown could cause more problems for the nation, including for the airline industry. The Department of Transportation shared a shutdown contingency plan Thursday that would place more than 10,000 Federal Aviation Administration employees on furlough if a partial government shutdown persists.
Under the plan, 13,835 air traffic controllers would still be required to remain on duty without pay during the funding lapse, a scenario that officials warn could place added pressure on the nation’s aviation system.