The echoes of last fall’s government budget shutdown, the longest in history, which forced the closure of hundreds of federal agencies, resonate strongly on Capitol Hill this Friday. The Senate approved this afternoon, by 71 to 29 votes, the agreement between Democrats and Republicans to give the green light to six important budget packages for 1.2 trillion dollars, which represent close to 75% of the federal government’s spending capabilities. The agreement includes funding for the departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, Labor, Education, Transportation, State and agencies related to financial services. The measure still must be approved by the House of Representatives, which cannot meet until Monday, leading to a new government shutdown, but this time it will be partial and brief.
Tension erupted this week in the halls of the United States Congress after the murder last Saturday in Minneapolis of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, murdered by federal immigration police agents. Democrats refused to approve the six budget packages ready for consideration this week. They alleged that they were not willing to give the green light to an increase in funding for the Department of Homeland Security, led by Kristi Noem, to reach $64 billion. Under that department fall the powers of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) and the Border Patrol (USBP), whose agents have been deployed in Minnesota and are carrying out indiscriminate raids against undocumented immigrants and employing tactics described as police brutality.
During the week, some Republicans joined the Democrats’ reluctance. The conversations intensified until the White House intervened. Democrats wanted to include immigration reform to require federal agents to wear body cameras, require identification and prohibit them from masking, and require warrants to access private property, such as citizens’ homes.
The negotiation was unblocked on Thursday after a conversation between the leader of the Democratic minority in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, and the president of the United States, Donald Trump. The pact included the approval of the financing of five of the six budget packages to finance the main federal agencies until September. And the approval, for two weeks, to prevent it from having to close, of the budget of the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats and Republicans are therefore given 15 days to reform the immigration law and include the claims of the blue party.
But the United States budget process is complex and convoluted. As the House of Representatives had already approved the six budget packages, any modification to the financing law must return to Congress for validation.
But the House of Representatives needs room to convene sessions. And he couldn’t meet until next Monday. So this midnight there will be a partial government shutdown that is expected to be brief, 48 hours, until Congress validates the changes approved by the Senate.
Although not all the details of the agreement have been revealed, it has coincided with the withdrawal of several federal agents from Minnesota and a relaxation of the Trump Administration’s campaign against immigration.
The partial shutdown of the federal government will affect agencies that are funded by the six budget projects that have been left in limbo until they are approved by Congress on Monday. There are 12 other budget projects that have already seen the light and have annual allocations.
Although the majority of legislators are confident that the entire budget scam will be resolved on Monday, there are those who have doubts due to the reluctance of some Republicans who want to demand compensation for the concessions to the Democrats in the Senate. The White House is putting pressure on the Republican caucus to reduce possible dissent. The Rules Committee of the House of Representatives plans to meet this Sunday to prepare for Monday’s vote, according to Efe.
