The House endorsed the agreement that restores state funding, and Donald Trump confirmed his decision to avoid a prolonged shutdown
Compartir:
The Congress of the United States approved a budget agreement that makes it possible to end the partial shutdown of the federal Government that began on Saturday. The initiative, driven after intense negotiations, was sent to President Donald Trump, who confirmed that he will sign it immediately to guarantee the continuity of the essential functions of the State.
The vote in the House of Representatives, controlled by Republicans, was decided by a narrow margin of 217 votes in favor and 214 against, reflecting internal tensions but also the Republican leadership's ability to avoid a new scenario of institutional paralysis.
An agreement to guarantee stability and predictability
The spending package, valued at 1.2 trillion dollars, restores funding for most federal agencies —including defense, health, education, and housing— until September 30. In the case of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), funding is extended until February 13, leaving the discussion on immigration policy open.
The Senate had already approved the agreement last week by a wide margin, which paved the way for Trump to move quickly with enactment and avoid economic and social consequences resulting from a prolonged shutdown.
El Capitolio aprobó el presupuesto que pone fin al cierre del Gobierno y Trump lo promulgará de inmediato
Trump's role in preventing a new prolonged shutdown
From the beginning of the conflict, Donald Trump pressured Republican lawmakers to maintain unity and not reopen the agreement, recalling the negative impact of the record 43-day shutdown that occurred last year under a different context.
Through his social network, the president reiterated the need to avoid unnecessary blockages, prioritizing the country's stability and the normal functioning of federal agencies. His intervention was key to unlocking internal resistance and moving forward with the final vote.
The pending debate on the Department of Homeland Security
The only chapter still open corresponds to DHS, where differences with Democrats persist regarding guidelines on immigration policy. The discussion intensified after the episodes that occurred in Minneapolis, which led to demands for greater restrictions on federal operations.
In that context, the DHS secretary, Kristi Noem, announced the immediate implementation of body cameras for federal agents, a measure that will begin in Minneapolis and will be progressively extended nationwide.
El Capitolio aprobó el presupuesto que pone fin al cierre del Gobierno y Trump lo promulgará de inmediato
Legislative progress and Republican leadership
The approval of the budget package entails progress on 11 of the 12 annual appropriations bills, covering nearly three quarters of federal spending. The Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, acknowledged the complexity of the process, while the majority leader, Steve Scalise, emphasized that building consensus requires work until the last moment.
With this agreement, the Government ensures the operation of key areas such as the Department of Defense, nutritional assistance, and national parks, while Congress has a limited period of time to solve the final funding for DHS.
