US government shutdown ends after Trump signs stopgap spending bill

President Donald Trump has signed a spending bill that brings an end to a four-day partial US government shutdown, closing a tense chapter in Washington marked by sharp disagreements over immigration enforcement and funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

The bill reached the president’s desk on Tuesday after passing the Republican-controlled House by a narrow 217–214 vote earlier in the day. The close margin reflected deep divisions on Capitol Hill, with immigration once again emerging as the most contentious issue.

Twenty-one Democrats crossed party lines to support the legislation, while an equal number of Republicans voted against it. Those Republicans said they could not back the bill without stronger commitments to reform DHS operations, an issue that has become politically sensitive following recent events.

The shutdown began on Saturday after Democrats opposed new funding for DHS, the agency responsible for carrying out Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown. Negotiations collapsed after the killing of two US citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis, an incident that sparked national outrage and intensified scrutiny of enforcement tactics.

On Friday, the Senate had already passed a broader package funding most federal agencies through September. That package included a two-week stopgap measure to keep DHS running temporarily, giving lawmakers time to negotiate a full-year funding deal focused on immigration policy.

Trump, who previously presided over a record 43-day shutdown last summer, had urged fellow Republicans to support the bill and avoid prolonging the disruption. Speaking at the White House signing ceremony, he described the legislation as a win for the public.

“This bill is a great victory for the American people,” Trump said, arguing that it avoided what he called wasteful spending while continuing support for key national security and public safety programs.

Democrats, however, said their support came only after mounting pressure forced limited concessions. They have been demanding changes to DHS practices, particularly the use of heavily armed, masked agents conducting immigration sweeps without warrants.

Public anger grew after the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a mother of three, and Alex Pretti, a nurse who worked with military veterans, during an operation in Minneapolis last month. In response, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Monday that federal agents in the city would begin wearing body cameras immediately, with plans to expand the policy nationwide.

Lawmakers now face a tight two-week deadline to reach agreement on a full-year DHS funding bill. Both parties admit the talks will be difficult, with Democrats pushing for stricter oversight and conservatives demanding tougher enforcement measures.

For now, the immediate disruption has ended, allowing federal workers to return to their jobs. But the political standoff over immigration and government funding remains far from resolved.