House Speaker Mike Johnson says the partial government shutdown will drag on for days—and he’s blaming Democrats for demanding accountability from the same immigration agents who killed two people during protests in Minneapolis.
WHAT’S GOING ON: According to the AP, Johnson announced Sunday there won’t be a quick House vote to end the shutdown, which has left the Department of Homeland Security and several other federal agencies in limbo. The holdup? Democrats are refusing to provide votes for speedy passage unless they get real restraints on ICE—things like requiring agents to unmask and identify themselves, ending roving patrols, and mandating body cameras.
Johnson’s response to these demands for basic accountability? “The president is leading this,” he told Fox News Sunday. “It’s his play call to do it this way.” Translation: he’s waiting for Trump to tell him what to do.
THE DETAILS: The Senate already passed a Trump-backed deal Friday that separates DHS funding from a broader package, giving Congress two weeks to debate restrictions on ICE operations. That bill includes $20 million for body cameras—a start, but Democrats say it’s nowhere near enough after federal agents in masks shot and killed protesters.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries isn’t backing down (yet). “What is clear is that the Department of Homeland Security needs to be dramatically reformed,” he said on ABC. “Masks should come off. Judicial warrants should absolutely be required consistent with the Constitution.”
BUT BUT BUT: Johnson claims removing masks and putting names on agents’ uniforms would endanger law enforcement because protesters are posting their personal information online. “I don’t think the president would approve it—and he shouldn’t,” he said. Of course, he conveniently ignores that the agents are the ones who showed up armed and killed people at protests.
WHY IT MATTERS: This is the second shutdown in months as Congress weaponizes the funding process. Meanwhile, defense, health, transportation, and housing agencies are caught in the crossfire. Workers could go without pay. Some could be furloughed. And Johnson’s plan to muscle the legislation through with only Republican votes means procedural gymnastics that won’t even bring a floor vote until at least Tuesday.
Senator Chris Murphy put it bluntly: “What is happening in Minnesota right now is a dystopia. ICE is making this country less safe, not more safe today.” Growing numbers of lawmakers are calling for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to be fired or impeached.
The bottom line: Republicans are willing to let the government stay shut down rather than require federal agents to show their faces when they kill American civilians.