Beyond the immediate task of funding the government, the approach is also setting up a short timeline to negotiate funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which has been at the center of the spending fight.
The two-week funding measure for DHS, which Democrats advocated for, means both parties have little time to come to an agreement over how to reform the administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.
In the wake of two deadly shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis, Democrats have demanded a number of reforms, including an end to roving patrols and tightening of the rules governing the use of warrants, along with requiring ICE to coordinate with state and local law enforcement. They’ve also demanded a uniform code of conduct and accountability to hold federal agents to the same use-of-force policies as state and local law enforcement and a “masks off, body cameras on” policy for federal agents.
Republicans had pushed for a longer timeline for negotiations, with up to a six-week continuing resolution for DHS. And Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters after the Senate approved the funding package last week that it’s going to be “really, really hard to get anything done.”
“We’ll stay hopeful but there are some pretty significant differences of opinion,” Thune said.
Johnson appeared more optimistic Sunday that a resolution can be reached in the short timeline.
“I’ve got to get everybody in a room and work this out. I think we can,” Johnson said on “Fox News Sunday.”
The speaker outlined that some of the demands Democrats have made are supported by Republicans, like on ending roving patrols and requiring body cameras. But other issues, like requiring federal agents not to wear masks and to identify themselves, would meet opposition.
“The head of DHS and the head of the operations in Minnesota and the president himself have said that we’re close to getting there,” Johnson said of negotiations. “We can agree to some of these conditions, because everybody, all the American people, want the law to be enforced and done in a meaningful and efficient and effective way.”
