Government Reopens, but DHS Funding Cliff Looms Next Week

The federal government fully reopened Wednesday after House lawmakers approved a spending package that funds most agencies through September.

One major exception remains: funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was extended only through Feb. 13, setting up another high-stakes negotiation in the days ahead. Congressional leaders now face an intense push to reach a bipartisan agreement before the deadline. 

Late Wednesday night, Democratic leaders issued 10 formal demands calling for reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as a condition of any DHS funding deal. Republican appropriators immediately rejected the proposals, raising the likelihood of another partial government shutdown when DHS funding expires next Friday night.

For associations, the funding package approved by Congress also includes notable funding cuts to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). While less severe than cuts originally proposed by the White House, the reductions are expected to constrain the agency’s capacity—particularly its enforcement activities.

This article was provided to OSAP by ASAE's Power of Associations and Inroads.