The government shutdown that has been going on for 76 days in America has finally ended. This is being said to be the longest government shutdown in history. The US House on Thursday unanimously approved a bill to provide funding for most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), formally ending a long impasse affecting various agencies.
DHS Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced on social media that DHS has reopened. He said funding for agencies like Immigration and Border Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol (CBP) would be done through the reconciliation process, which did not require Democrat votes.
Democrats blame shutdown on lawmakers
Mullin blamed Democrats for the shutdown and thanked federal workers who continued to serve the country without guaranteed pay. He expressed gratitude to President Trump and DHS leadership for standing with him in this fight.
What was the effect of the shutdown in America?
This bill has now been sent to President Donald Trump for signature. The shutdown began on February 14 and became the longest partial government shutdown in US history. While some departments, such as ICE and Border Patrol, were largely unaffected due to funding they already received, other critical agencies such as the Coast Guard, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) faced severe operational challenges.
House Speaker Mike Johnson explained that the legislative strategy took a two-pronged approach. He said he blocked the Homeland Security bill because he wanted to ensure that the two vital agencies were not separated or abolished. Once funding was secured, lawmakers could move forward on additional legislation.
Solution found after weeks
Coast Guard Admiral Kevin Lunde described his staff’s morale as “flailing” and the prolonged lack of funding as “incredibly frustrating.” The settlement comes after weeks of political standoff, with Republicans and Democrats divided over funding priorities related to immigration enforcement agencies and the broader operations of DHS. The reconciliation process is expected to be used to finalize additional funding measures in the coming weeks.
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