During an appearance on “Meet The Press,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) expressed confidence that the partial government shutdown, that began at midnight on January 31, should end early this upcoming week.
Johnson told Host Kristen Welker that he was confident the shutdown would end this coming Tuesday, citing logistical challenges such as travel disruptions from a southeastern U.S. snowstorm delaying lawmakers’ return to Washington. He emphasized that the House would likely pass the Senate-approved spending package using primarily Republican votes, as Democrats have declined to support a fast-tracked process.
“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,” he said.
Democrats have delayed the vote by refusing to provide the necessary support for a fast-tracked process in the House. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries informed Johnson that Democrats would not commit votes, insisting on separating DHS funding to allow for “reforms” like ending roving patrols, requiring body cameras, and mandating judicial warrants for ICE operations.
Democrat-backed “reforms” to federal immigration enforcement would effectively grind deportations to a halt, Republicans have warned.
After Democrats caused the longest shutdown in U.S. history last year, Republicans are not going to let them put the American people through that chaos again.
We’re funding the government the right way — through regular order. Committees have done the work, 11 of 12… pic.twitter.com/fQVgfG0Wde
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) February 1, 2026
The ongoing negotiations in the House come after the White House and Senate came together for a compromise deal that funds most federal departments while allowing time for negotiations on DHS funding.
The deal in question, which the Senate approved on Friday, combines five spending bills that had previously passed the House. It provides full-year funding for most federal agencies through September 2026, the end of the fiscal year. However, it separates funding for the Department of Homeland Security by extending it at current levels for just two weeks.
“The only thing that can slow our Country down is another long and damaging Government Shutdown. Republicans and Democrats in Congress have come together to get the vast majority of the Government funded until September, while at the same time providing an extension to the Department of Homeland Security,” President Trump posted on Truth Social in response to the deal.
The House is scheduled to consider the bill starting with a Rules Committee meeting on Monday afternoon, followed by a full House vote. If the legislation passes without further delays, the government could reopen shortly thereafter, restoring funding and preventing disruptions such as limited paychecks for military personnel, airport workers, and federal healthcare services, as well as impacts on natural disaster management.
While Democrats are expected to push to cripple federal immigration enforcement with their proposed reforms, a number of Republican senators have described some proposals as non-negotiable. Republicans are also expected to counter with amendments for unrelated items, such as a House-passed voter ID bill.
