House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) expressed confidence that the House would bring an end to the partial government shutdown that started on Saturday due to Congress failing to pass a measure to fund the government.
“I’m convinced we will resolve this by Tuesday,” Speaker Johnson stated on “Fox News Sunday.”
“We will need to follow a rule process, likely on our own,”
However, Johnson mentioned on NBC’s “Meet The Press” that “getting everyone in town poses a logistical challenge,” possibly alluding to transportation issues caused by recent winter storms that led to power outages and numerous flight cancellations late last month.
The Speaker also mentioned that following discussions with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Republicans in the House will have to “pass a rule and likely proceed mostly independently,” expressing disappointment over the situation.
“Following the Senate’s actions over the weekend, we now have 11 out of 12 separate appropriations bills approved by both chambers,” Johnson added.
“Due to modifications in the package sent by the Senate, we will need to revisit these bills.”
Jack Phillips reported for The Epoch Times that the U.S. government experienced a brief shutdown on Saturday after Congress failed to agree on funding for various operations. While the Senate easily approved a spending package on Jan. 30, the House of Representatives is currently not in session.
Johnson, whose party holds a slim majority in the House, mentioned on NBC on Sunday that the GOP aims to fund all agencies except the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), by Tuesday.
He added that once achieved, “we will engage in two weeks of sincere negotiations to find a resolution.”
Democrats are pushing for reforms within ICE, including mandatory body cameras and the cessation of roving patrols and the use of face masks by ICE agents.
Lawmakers expressed their intent to shut down the government following the shooting of two protesters in Minneapolis last month during clashes with federal agents.
“I fail to see how Democrats can support continuing ICE funding” after the incidents, stated Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) on “Meet the Press” on Sunday.
The Trump administration might make adjustments to certain DHS practices, but Johnson noted that ICE agents will likely still wear masks to protect their identities.
“Tragic events in Minneapolis, largely due to the circumstances on the ground,” Johnson explained, citing instances of agitators doxxing and threatening ICE agents.
He highlighted that ICE agents wear masks to safeguard their identities and families, especially after local officials put bounties on them. This situation has created hazardous conditions.
DHS reported a surge in violent attacks on ICE agents in recent months under the Trump administration, which aims to deport numerous illegal immigrants, especially those with criminal backgrounds. In October 2025, a man armed with a rifle attacked an ICE office in Dallas, resulting in several casualties before the assailant took his own life.
In January, DHS disclosed a 1,300 percent rise in assaults on ICE agents, an 8,000 percent increase in death threats, and a 3,200 percent increase in vehicular attacks. Video footage of one of the Minneapolis incidents showed protester Renee Good hitting an agent with her vehicle as she attempted to flee apprehension, resulting in the agent fatally shooting her.
This shutdown follows shortly after the longest government shutdown in history concluded in mid-November 2025.
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