Trump Signs Stopgap Spending Bill to End Partial Government Shutdown

President Donald Trump signed a $1.2 trillion spending package late Tuesday night, officially ending the weeklong partial government shutdown and restoring funding for most federal agencies.

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The bill, which passed the House earlier in the evening by a narrow 217–214 margin, provides temporary funding for key government departments through September but keeps the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operating only until February 13. Lawmakers now face a 10-day window to reach a longer-term deal on immigration and border security before DHS funding lapses again.

The legislation cleared Congress after days of intense negotiations and sharp divisions within the Republican Party. Twenty-one House Republicans opposed the measure, arguing that it failed to deliver on core GOP priorities such as full-year DHS funding and election integrity provisions. Another 21 Democrats voted in favor, providing the votes needed for passage.

In signing the bill, Trump said it was necessary to prevent further harm to the economy and to keep critical federal services running. “We cannot have another long, pointless, and destructive shutdown that hurts our country,” the president said. “We will continue working in good faith to resolve outstanding issues.”

The spending package funds major departments — including Education, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Health and Human Services — while deferring the most contentious debates over immigration enforcement. Democrats have demanded new restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, including requirements for body-worn cameras, visible identification, and the use of judicial warrants for arrests rather than administrative ones.

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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed Monday that the Trump administration had already begun implementing a limited version of those reforms, announcing that ICE agents in Minneapolis will now be required to wear body cameras. Noem said the policy will expand nationwide as funding allows.

“Body cameras will show the dangerous circumstances our agents face daily,” Noem said. “But they will also expose them to more scrutiny as they confront violent criminals and hostile activists.”

Opposition to the bill came from conservative Republicans who wanted a stronger stance on border security and long-term DHS funding. The 21 GOP lawmakers who voted “no” included Andy Biggs (AZ), Lauren Boebert (CO), Thomas Massie (KY), Byron Donalds (FL), Anna Paulina Luna (FL), Chip Roy (TX), and Scott Perry (PA).

Massie said he voted against the measure because it excluded the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a Republican-backed bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. “Blocked again — no SAVE Act, no border security, and a two-week DHS patch,” he wrote on X.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) defended the agreement as a necessary compromise to reopen the government while maintaining leverage over Senate Democrats. “Any attempt to hold up DHS funding over objections to immigration enforcement would be futile,” Johnson said. “ICE and CBP already received historic funding through last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act — $75 billion for ICE and $65 billion for CBP. They have enough resources to continue critical missions for years.”

However, the political battle over DHS funding remains unresolved. Democrats are pressing for oversight measures after two fatal ICE-involved shootings in Minneapolis last month, while Republicans accuse them of undermining law enforcement and weakening border security.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said Democrats will continue to demand “accountability and transparency” within DHS before agreeing to a longer-term funding package. Republicans counter that such restrictions could endanger agents and embolden criminal networks.

Despite internal divisions, Trump urged Republicans earlier this week to back the compromise measure and avoid prolonging the shutdown. His message to lawmakers — “There can be no changes at this time” — effectively cleared the way for the bill’s final passage.

“The American people deserve a functioning government,” Trump said in a statement following the signing. “We’ve restored order and stability, and now it’s time to get back to work securing the border and strengthening our nation.”

With the president’s signature, federal agencies including the Departments of Education, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development will resume normal operations. The White House said it expects government employees to return to their posts Wednesday morning.

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