The House of Representatives moved one step closer Tuesday to ending the partial government shutdown, adopting a rule that clears the way for a final vote on a legislative package to reopen affected parts of the federal government.
The procedural vote passed by a narrow 217–215 margin late Tuesday afternoon, underscoring the razor-thin divisions in Congress as lawmakers wrestle with funding disputes and broader political tensions. Rep. Thomas Massie was the lone Republican to vote against the rule, joining every Democrat in opposition. The rest of the GOP conference backed the measure, allowing the House to proceed toward a final vote.
The partial shutdown began Saturday morning after negotiations between Republicans and Democrats broke down over funding for the Department of Homeland Security. The funding fight has been intensified by ongoing controversy surrounding the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies, particularly following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, which have become central talking points for Democrats pushing back against DHS operations.
In an effort to prevent a prolonged shutdown, the White House reached a short-term agreement last week to continue funding DHS at current levels for two weeks, buying time for further negotiations. The Senate acted on that deal Friday, passing a legislative package to implement the agreement. With that step completed, attention shifted to the House, where passage has been less certain due to internal disagreements and Democratic resistance.
President Donald Trump has made it clear he wants swift action from the House. On Monday, Trump urged lawmakers to pass the Senate-approved deal without delay, warning against further brinkmanship that could prolong the shutdown and harm the country.
“I am working hard with Speaker Johnson to get the current funding deal, which passed in the Senate last week, through the House and to my desk, where I will sign it into Law, IMMEDIATELY!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He emphasized the need to reopen the government quickly and called on both Republicans and Democrats to support the bill as written.
Trump also cautioned lawmakers against attempting to amend the legislation at this stage. “There can be NO CHANGES at this time,” he wrote, arguing that reopening the government must come first, with negotiations over outstanding issues to follow. He warned that another extended shutdown would be “long, pointless, and destructive,” offering no political benefit to either party while inflicting damage on the country.
The vote places added pressure on House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has been working closely with the White House to marshal enough Republican votes to move the bill forward. With margins this tight, GOP leadership has little room for defections as the House prepares for the final vote.
For Republicans, advancing the rule represents an effort to demonstrate responsible governance while keeping the focus on border security and DHS funding concerns. Democrats, meanwhile, have continued to oppose the package as they press for changes tied to immigration enforcement and accountability.
With the rule now adopted, the House is set to vote on the underlying legislation, putting Congress on a path to potentially end the partial shutdown and temporarily fund DHS. Whether lawmakers can quickly follow through remains to be seen, but the message from the White House is unmistakable: pass the deal, reopen the government, and keep negotiations going without further disruption.
