The United States House of Representatives has passed a $1.2 trillion spending package to end a partial government shutdown, restoring funding for key federal programs, including the Departments of Labor and Education. The bipartisan legislation was approved on Tuesday with 217 votes in favor and 214 against in the Republican-controlled House, reflecting a narrow margin. Twenty-one Republicans opposed the bill, while 21 Democrats supported it. The measure now moves to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature.
A major point of contention in the legislation was immigration. The bill temporarily funds the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through February 13, allowing lawmakers additional time to negotiate reforms following last month’s deaths of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, at the hands of federal agents. Democrats have called for stronger oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), demanding measures such as mandatory body cameras, independent investigations when agents violate the law, restrictions on the use of force, and prohibitions against targeting sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and places of worship.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said, “Dramatic changes such as a mask ban, judicial warrant requirements, independent investigations when agents break the law, use of force protocols, mandatory body cameras, and an end to the targeting of sensitive locations like houses of worship, schools, and hospitals must be part of any full-year appropriations bill.”
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Speaker Mike Johnson expressed optimism that the two parties would reach agreement on DHS funding and immigration reforms before the two-week extension expires. “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, adding that President Trump had reached out to facilitate discussions.
Some conservative Republicans unsuccessfully tried to amend the bill to include stricter voting requirements. The narrow Republican majority in the House—218 to 214—means they could afford only a single defection in the face of unified Democratic opposition, underscoring the delicate balance required to pass such critical spending legislation.
The legislation completes 11 annual appropriations bills, funding federal agencies and programs through September 30, though DHS funding remains a temporary measure. The recent partial government shutdown highlighted the economic and operational risks of federal funding gaps.
The last shutdown, which lasted a record 43 days in October and November, furloughed hundreds of thousands of federal employees and cost the U.S. economy an estimated $11 billion. By passing the $1.2 trillion package, Congress aims to restore government operations, prevent further disruption, and provide breathing room for negotiations on contentious immigration issues.