**WASHINGTON, D.C., February 1, 2026** — **House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.)** said Sunday that there will be no swift House vote to end the partial government shutdown, escalating the political dispute that has stalled funding for several government agencies. Johnson specifically blamed Democratic lawmakers for their stance on demands related to **ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)** operations, a major sticking point in budget negotiations. (AP News [1])
The legislative leader explained that although there is a negotiated agreement in the Senate to separate funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from the overall appropriations package, it will still be several days before the bill reaches the House floor. This separation, agreed upon after public outrage over two deaths in Minneapolis during protests against ICE tactics, provides for a two-week temporary extension of DHS funding while discussions on immigration policy reforms continue. (PBS [2])
“It will be in a few days when we can bring this funding package to a vote in the House of Representatives,” Johnson stated in an interview with “Fox News Sunday,” adding that he is confident in President Donald Trump’s leadership to ensure the legislation’s final passage. (PBS 2)
### **Democrats Demand Deep ICE Reforms**
Negotiations have stalled largely due to **Democratic demands**, which go far beyond basic funding for ICE operations. Democratic representatives, led by **Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.)**, have insisted on conditions that include requiring ICE agents to remove their masks and identify themselves, mandating warrants rather than internal ones for home raids, and ending “mobile patrols”—all measures aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and civil rights. (PBS 2)
“What’s clear is that the Department of Homeland Security needs deep reform,” Jeffries said in a television interview this weekend. “Warrants should be absolutely required, and agents must identify themselves before engaging in operations that may involve force.” ([PBS][2])
Johnson, for his part, has argued that some of these changes could jeopardize the safety of officers, especially in the context of protests or violent acts, and has clarified that certain demands “beyond funded body cameras” are already included in the bill, but not necessarily under the conditions proposed by the Democrats. ([PBS][2])
### **Continued Partial Government Shutdown**
The result of this legislative impasse is that the partial government shutdown, which went into effect last Saturday, will not end in the short term. Several federal departments that have not received funding—such as defense, health, housing, and transportation—face shutdown guidance, although many essential services continue to operate. Federal workers who are not classified as essential could go unpaid until the full budget is restored. (PBS 2)
This episode represents **the second partial shutdown in just a few months**, a sign of the growing polarization in Congress over how to address budget issues tied to domestic policy matters, such as immigration. The previous shutdown, the longest in recent history, lasted 43 days and ended without the passage of an extension to certain contentious health care subsidies. (PBS 2)
Meanwhile, both sides are preparing to continue negotiations this week, facing the pressure of balancing the need to resume full government operations with the deeply entrenched political reform demands of each party.
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