Speaker Johnson Seeks To Reopen Government Amid Democratic Resistance
Speaker Mike Johnson said he expects the government to reopen by Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, after the Senate passed a spending package on Jan. 30, 2026.
Overview
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) said on NBC's Meet the Press on Feb. 1, 2026 that he is "confident" the government will reopen by Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026 and that Republicans can pass funding largely without Democratic votes.
The apparent path to reopening follows the U.S. Senate's Jan. 30, 2026 passage of a spending package and a partial government shutdown that began on Jan. 31, 2026 after the House failed to approve a funding measure, congressional records show.
Senate Democrats removed Department of Homeland Security funding and replaced it with a two-week temporary measure after the Jan. 2026 killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were fatally shot 17 days apart by federal immigration agents, according to Senate Democrats.
House Democrats have refused to guarantee the votes needed to reopen the government, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) saying on Jan. 31, 2026 that Democrats demand a full debate and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) telling NBC on Feb. 1, 2026 he is "a firm no" on the current terms.
The House Rules Committee is scheduled to meet on Feb. 2, 2026 to review the revised funding bill and any House floor votes on a procedural rule or final passage are unlikely before Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, officials said.
Analysis
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Sources (3)
FAQ
The partial government shutdown began on January 31, 2026, after the House failed to approve a funding measure on time, exacerbated by Democratic opposition following the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal immigration agents in Minnesota.
Senate Democrats removed full Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding and replaced it with a two-week temporary funding measure to allow time for negotiations on immigration enforcement reforms after the Minnesota shootings.
House Democrats, led by Hakeem Jeffries, demand a full debate and reforms to DHS and ICE practices, including barring masks and requiring identification for agents, refusing to expedite passage without these changes.
The House Rules Committee is scheduled to meet on February 2, 2026, to review the bill, with floor votes unlikely before Tuesday, February 3, 2026, when Speaker Johnson expects passage.
Alex Pretti and Renee Good were U.S. citizens fatally shot 17 days apart in January 2026 by federal immigration agents in Minnesota, sparking Democratic outrage and derailing bipartisan budget negotiations.
History
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