Early Saturday morning, the federal government of the United States shut down partially despite the earlier passing of a funding deal by the Senate.
The Senate approved a package of five Bills by a vote of 71-29, along with a two-week stopgap measure to allow lawmakers more time to resolve funding disputes for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The funding lapse happened after negotiations broke down. Democrats were angry about the killing of two protesters in Minneapolis by federal immigration agents, which stopped talks about new funding for the DHS.
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'Trump administration wasting valuable resources...'
The House of Representatives must also vote to approve the final version of the deal, but it is not scheduled to return to Washington until Monday. As a result, the federal government has entered what is expected to be a brief shutdown, following last year's record 43-day closure. The Bill still requires approval from the House of Representatives, which is currently out of session.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., informed House Republicans during a Friday conference call that he will support the Senate-passed funding deal, citing President Donald Trump's endorsement, news agency CNBC reported. US President Donald Trump reached the agreement with Democrats after they declined to provide additional funding for immigration enforcement, following the fatal shooting of two US citizens in Minneapolis by federal agents.
Johnson expressed hope that the House will pass the Bill on Monday, according to CNBC. If approved, the spending package will be sent to Trump for his signature. On Saturday, funding approved by Congress ran out for Bills that support the departments of State, Defense, Financial Services, Homeland Security, Labour, Health and Human Services, Transportation, Education, Housing and Urban Development and related agencies and programmes.
"Instead of going after drug smugglers, child predators and human traffickers, the Trump Administration is wasting valuable resources targeting peaceful protestors in Chicago and Minneapolis," Senate Democratic Minority Whip Dick Durbin posted on social media as reported by Channel News Asia.
"This administration continues to make Americans less safe."
'Shutdown will not last long'
According to a news report by BBC, this shutdown probably will not last long or affect many areas, since the House of Representatives is scheduled to return on Monday. The White House has told several agencies, such as the departments of transportation, education and defense, to carry out their shutdown plans.
"Employees should report to work for their next regularly scheduled tour of duty to undertake orderly shutdown activities," a White House memo to agencies said as reported by BBC. "It is our hope that this lapse will be short."
Trump has urged Republicans, who hold the majority of seats in the US House, to vote for the deal.
Lawmakers will use the two-week DHS funding extension to negotiate an agreement. Democrats seek to include new policies for immigration enforcement agents in the deal.
"We need to rein in ICE and end the violence," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was quoted as saying by BBC, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
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"That means ending roving patrols. It means requiring rules, oversight, and judicial warrants... Masks need to come off, cameras need to stay on, and officers need visible identification. No secret police."
Republican and Democratic lawmakers have strongly criticized immigration agents' tactics following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last weekend.
Pretti, an intensive care nurse, was shot by a US Border Patrol agent after several agents attempted to restrain him during an altercation.
On Friday, the Justice Department launched a civil rights investigation into the shooting.
