Trump signs USD 1.2 trillion spending deal to end partial US government shutdown

US Shutdown Update: US President Donald Trump signed a sweeping USD 1.2 trillion federal spending package into law, formally ending a partial US government shutdown that began over the weekend and granting lawmakers a narrow window to negotiate limits on his administration’s immigration enforcement policies.Funding Restored for Key AgenciesThe legislation restores lapsed funding for several major federal departments, including defence, healthcare, labour, education, housing and other agencies, while temporarily extending funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) until February 13, a report by Reuters said.According to Reuters, funding for these agencies expired on Saturday after Congress failed to pass legislation in time, triggering a shutdown that, so far, has caused limited disruption to government services.The measure passed the Senate last week with broad bipartisan support and cleared the House of Representatives on Tuesday by a narrow 217–214 vote, before being signed into law by Trump later in the day.“This bill is a great victory for the American people,” Trump said while signing the legislation in the Oval Office.DHS Funding Emerges as FlashpointDHS funding remains the most contentious element of the package. Lawmakers stripped out a longer-term DHS bill amid mounting Democratic demands for reforms to immigration enforcement practices following the fatal shooting of two US citizens by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis last month.As reported by Reuters, Senate Democrats have called for new restraints on what they describe as the administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown, including greater accountability measures for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).Trump’s administration has already partially conceded to these demands by deploying body cameras for immigration agents in Minnesota, Reuters said, though other proposed reforms are expected to face resistance from Republicans.The DHS oversees multiple agencies, including ICE, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Coast Guard and the Secret Service.Two-Week Window for TalksLawmakers now face a tight two-week deadline to resolve DHS funding, which is set to lapse on February 13 without further action. Senate Majority Leader John Thune warned the timeline could complicate negotiations, saying Republicans remain in “very different places” on how to proceed.The Senate approved funding to keep DHS operating temporarily while broader disputes are addressed. The same agreement was passed by the House on Tuesday.Shutdown Impact Still FeltThe brief shutdown forced thousands of Federal Aviation Administration and air traffic control workers to either stay home on furlough or continue working without pay. It has also delayed the Bureau of Labour Statistics’ monthly jobs report, a key indicator closely watched by policymakers and investors.The previous shutdown, which lasted 43 days in October and November, cost the US economy an estimated USD 11 billion, according to Reuters.