Trump Presses House to Pass Senate Spending Deal as Shutdown Pressure Mounts

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – President Donald Trump demanded Monday that House lawmakers swiftly approve the bipartisan spending package passed by the Senate, urging both parties to set aside additional policy demands to bring a partial government shutdown to a rapid end.

“We need to get the Government open,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, calling on Republicans and Democrats alike to support the bill “WITHOUT DELAY” and warning that “there can be NO CHANGES at this time.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson is aiming to bring the $1.2 trillion package to the House floor as soon as Tuesday. The legislation would fund most federal agencies through the end of the fiscal year, while providing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with only a two-week extension. That short-term funding window is intended to allow further bipartisan negotiations over immigration enforcement policies.

Some conservative Republicans have pushed to attach the VOTE Act, which would require voter identification at the polls. Democrats have fiercely opposed the proposal, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling it a “poison pill” that would derail the legislation if added. Any changes made in the House would force the bill back to the Senate, prolonging the shutdown.

While the Senate approved the compromise in a 71–29 vote, prospects in the House are more uncertain. Johnson’s narrow majority means he will need near-unanimous Republican support. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries acknowledged that some Democrats may back final passage but made clear they would not assist Republicans with the procedural rule vote required to bring the bill forward.

Trump, after calling for unity, also criticized Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, labeling him an “absolutely terrible and unreliable Republican” for resisting leadership’s push.

The shutdown began just after midnight Saturday after funding lapsed for several departments, including Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Homeland Security. Although lawmakers expect the shutdown to be brief, nonessential federal employees were still required to begin furlough procedures Monday, as federal law mandates once funding expires.

The current standoff traces back to the fatal shooting of a protester in Minneapolis during an immigration enforcement operation. Senate Democrats responded by demanding changes to ICE and DHS practices as a condition for full-year funding. Their demands include ending certain patrol tactics, increasing accountability standards, and requiring agents to wear body cameras and visible identification.

The Trump administration has signaled a willingness to de-escalate tensions without compromising law enforcement authority. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Monday that federal officers in Minneapolis will be equipped with body cameras, and a White House official confirmed that the administration plans to reduce the number of ICE and Border Patrol agents deployed in the city.

Despite pressure from both sides, Trump has emphasized the need to keep law enforcement functioning while avoiding prolonged chaos. “Republicans and Democrats in Congress have come together to get the vast majority of the Government funded until September,” he wrote in a previous post, highlighting the importance of maintaining DHS operations, including the Coast Guard.

With DHS funding temporarily extended for two weeks, negotiations are expected to continue in the coming days. Many Republicans remain skeptical of Democratic demands, warning that using immigration policy as leverage risks undermining public safety and disaster response agencies such as FEMA.

As the House prepares to vote, the White House is making clear that speed — not additional conditions — is the priority to fully reopen the government and restore stability.

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