Jeffries Tells Johnson What?
House Democrats are signaling that Republicans should not count on their support as Congress races to pass a spending bill and avoid a partial government shutdown.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries reportedly told Speaker Mike Johnson that Republicans cannot rely on Democratic votes to pass a funding measure that would keep most of the federal government operating through the end of September, according to Axios.
Jeffries made the comments during a direct call with Johnson as lawmakers face mounting pressure ahead of a potential shutdown deadline.
Speaking afterward, Jeffries said he has discussed the situation with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker Johnson, but emphasized that House Democrats are making their own decisions. He said he has not spoken with the White House and stressed that only House Democrats determine how their caucus votes.
The statement suggests Democrats are unwilling to provide automatic support, even as funding deadlines approach.
Senate Advances Spending Bill, Delays Homeland Security Decision
On Friday, the Senate approved a funding package that would finance most federal agencies while temporarily extending funding for the Department of Homeland Security. The short-term extension gives Congress roughly two weeks to debate potential changes to federal immigration enforcement policies.
The Senate vote came as shutdown concerns intensified nationwide.
President Donald Trump reached the spending agreement with Senate Democrats following heightened political tensions after two protesters were killed during clashes involving federal agents in Minneapolis.
Democrats have stated they will not support the broader spending bill unless Congress considers additional oversight measures related to immigration enforcement, including expanded warrant requirements and increased transparency surrounding federal operations.
The bill passed the Senate by a 71–29 vote and now moves to the House. However, the House is not scheduled to reconvene until Monday, raising the possibility of a temporary partial government shutdown over the weekend.
House Vote Uncertain as Divisions Deepen
Speaker Johnson told Republican lawmakers during a conference call that the House is expected to vote on the measure Monday evening. Still, the level of support remains unclear.
Some conservative Republicans have voiced opposition to placing restrictions on Homeland Security funding. At the same time, Democrats have expressed resistance to continued funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement without immediate policy changes.
Jeffries said Friday that any revisions to the Homeland Security portion of the bill must be “meaningful” and “transformative.” Without what he described as “dramatic change,” Jeffries warned that Republicans could face yet another government shutdown.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged the challenges ahead, saying negotiations would continue but progress would be difficult given the limited time frame.
“We’ll stay hopeful,” Thune said, “but there are some pretty significant differences of opinion.”
