Trump Signs $1.2 Trillion Budget To End US Shutdown

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a $1.2 trillion (£880 billion) federal budget into law, bringing an end to the partial government shutdown that began on Saturday. The legislation was approved by the House of Representatives in a narrow 217–214 vote on Tuesday, after clearing the Senate last Friday.

The spending package keeps most federal agencies funded through the end of the fiscal year in September. However, funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is only secured until the end of next week, setting up another potential budget showdown.

“This bill is a great victory for the American people,” Trump said while signing the legislation in the Oval Office on Tuesday afternoon.

DHS funding is set to expire on February 13 unless lawmakers reach a new agreement. The department oversees several major agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Coast Guard, and the Secret Service.

Democrats are pushing for changes to DHS operations, particularly targeting ICE. Their demands follow the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis last month.

Among the proposed reforms are requirements for agents to wear body cameras, avoid masking their identities, and follow revised enforcement protocols. Democrats argue that DHS funding should reflect accountability measures in light of the recent deaths.

While senators had initially agreed on a package of six spending bills, they removed the bill funding DHS due to disagreements. Instead, the Senate approved a two-week stopgap measure to keep DHS operating temporarily while negotiations continue. The House passed the same arrangement on Tuesday.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune voiced concern about the short extension, noting deep divisions within Congress.

“Once we start, we have a very short timeframe in which to do this, which I lobbied against, but the Democrats insisted on a two-week window,” Thune said.

“I don’t understand the rationale for that. Anybody who knows this place knows that’s an impossibility.”

Both the House and Senate must pass any final DHS funding bill before it can be signed into law by the president.

The partial shutdown disrupted several government services, forcing thousands of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and air traffic control workers to either remain on furlough or continue working without pay.

It also delayed the release of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly jobs report, a key indicator used by policymakers, investors, and the public to assess the state of the U.S. economy.

Although the broader shutdown has ended, the looming DHS funding deadline means uncertainty remains particularly around immigration enforcement and ICE operations, raising the prospect of another budget crisis in the coming days.