Trump signs bill to end shutdown but another budget cliff looms over ICE funding

February 3, 2026

President Trump signed a $1. 2 trillion budget measure that ended a brief government shutdown after the House approved it in a narrow 217-214 vote. While the legislation provides funding for most federal agencies through September, the Department of Homeland Security received only a two-week extension until February 13th.

Who is affected

President Donald Trump
Members of the US House of Representatives and Senate
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its subsidiary agencies (ICE, CBP, Coast Guard, Secret Service)
Federal Aviation Administration and air traffic control workers (thousands furloughed or working without pay)
Bureau of Labor Statistics employees
Alex Pretti and Renee Good (two US citizens fatally shot by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis)
Political leaders, investors, and everyday Americans who rely on employment data
Democrats and Republicans in Congress

What action is being taken

President Trump is signing the $1.2 trillion budget
Most government agencies are being funded through September
DHS is being funded for two weeks (until February 13th)
Lawmakers are negotiating over DHS reforms
Democrats are demanding restrictions on federal law enforcement and changes to ICE operations

Why it matters

This budget deal matters because it ended a government shutdown that was disrupting critical federal services and leaving thousands of workers furloughed or unpaid. The brief two-week funding extension for DHS sets up an urgent deadline for lawmakers to resolve deep partisan disagreements over immigration enforcement practices, particularly following the controversial fatal shooting of two US citizens. The outcome of these negotiations will determine how federal immigration agencies operate and could significantly impact enforcement policies. Additionally, the shutdown delayed important economic reporting that influences financial markets and policy decisions.

What's next

Lawmakers will negotiate Democratic calls for DHS reforms before February 13th
Congress must reach a new agreement on DHS funding by February 13th to avoid another lapse
Discussions will focus on requirements for body cameras, restrictions on agents wearing masks, funding changes, and protocol modifications related to immigration enforcement

Read full article from source: BBC