Partial US government shutdown ends with House vote
The partial government shutdown, which occurred following a budget dispute between parties in the US, has ended with a vote held in the House of Representatives.
12punto
The budget dispute in the US, which arose from demands by Democrats for changes in response to the shooting death of two American citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis, has ended with the passage of a 1.2 trillion dollar spending package in the House of Representatives.
The consensus to overcome the partial government shutdown was made possible by removing the bill regarding the funding of the Department of Homeland Security—to which the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, a target of criticism due to its strict practices toward irregular migrants and even American citizens, is attached—from the spending package.
While disagreements between the Democratic and Republican wings regarding the Department of Homeland Security continue, the spending package to fund federal agencies was narrowly passed with 217 votes to 214 following a call for consensus from US President Donald Trump.
Discussions regarding the future and funding of the Department of Homeland Security formed the most controversial part of the budget package. Democratic politicians made demands such as requiring federal agents under the Department of Homeland Security to wear body cameras and not wear masks to hide their faces. Democrats also demanded changes to the strict security protocols of federal agents that resulted in the death of American citizens.
The US Senate had approved five spending bills within the package while removing the sixth bill that provided funding to the Department of Homeland Security. In this framework, sufficient funding was also approved to allow the Department of Homeland Security to continue its operations for two weeks. The consensus reached in the Senate was also accepted by the House of Representatives today.
When the bill is signed by the President, the partial government shutdown that began on Saturday will end. In addition to funding most of the federal government until September 30, this bill will also provide short-term funding until February 13 for the Department of Homeland Security, the agency that enforces the country's immigration laws.
Republican and Democratic politicians in the US Congress will seek a consensus by holding discussions on the future of the Department of Homeland Security over the two-week period.