Live coverage: Congress votes to end government shutdown

House sends government funding bill to Trump’s desk

6:12 p.m.

The House cleared legislation on Monday to end the three-day government shutdown, sending it to President Trump for his signature.

Lawmakers voted 266-150 to reopen the federal government and extend funding through Feb. 8, as well as provide money for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years. Six Republicans voted “no,” while 45 Democrats voted “yes” to pass the bill.

A government shutdown went into effect early Saturday morning after most Senate Democrats and a handful of Republicans blocked a House-passed temporary spending bill that would have lasted through Feb. 16.

Senate approves funding measure, sending it to House

4:27 p.m.

The Senate voted Monday to reopen the government, ending a three-day standoff that left federal agencies shuttered and hundreds of thousands of workers furloughed.

The House is expected to approve the bill later and send it to President Trump, allowing the government to completely reopen on Tuesday. 

Senators voted 81-18 to approve the stopgap spending measure lasting until Feb. 8 after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) promised to allow an immigration bill to reach the floor next month. 

The final vote came two hours after the Senate voted with a large bipartisan majority to end a Democratic filibuster.

“After several discussions, offers and counteroffers, the Republican leader and I have come to an arrangement. We will vote today to reopen the government to continue negotiating a global agreement,” Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said after clinching a deal with McConnell.  

The deal falls short of the Democrats’ initial demand that Trump and GOP leaders agree to the rough outlines of a deal to replace the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and protect hundreds of thousands of “Dreamers” facing deportation. 

WH expects federal government running at full strength on Tuesday

2:50 p.m.

The White House expects the federal government to be operating at full strength Tuesday morning as Congress finalizes a plan to end the government shutdown.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders laid out the administration’s expected timeline to reporters during a Monday briefing with reporters.

She said the continuing resolution, which the Senate agreed to earlier Monday, will head to the Office of Management and Budget after it’s presumably passed by the House, paving the way for President Trump’s signature in the “late afternoon, early evening.”

With most government offices closed by the time Trump expects to receive the bill for a signature, Sanders said that all offices would “start back in full capacity tomorrow morning.”

The Senate voted Monday on legislation that would fund the government for three weeks and fund the Children’s Health Insurance Program for six years, in exchange for a promise from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to hold an immigration vote in the next month. 

Immigration hawk: Trump backs ‘limited amnesty’ for certain immigrants

2:45 p.m.

A top immigration hardliner said Monday he thinks Donald Trump’s positions on immigration are like Jell-O, and accused the president of backing “limited amnesty” for immigrants in the country illegally.

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), who advised Trump on immigration issues during the 2016 campaign, said he has grown frustrated by Trump’s failed promises to build a wall on the southern border with Mexico and end protections for young immigrants who had enrolled in the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

“We finally elected a president who called for the end of amnesty and he was going to end DACA at noon on Jan. 20, 2017, and we all expected that would happen without fanfare. Instead, we learned that permits were being issued. Then, he served [DACA] up as a bargaining chip” to build the wall, King told The Hill in an interview in the Capitol.

“When he sent out his tweet Sept. 5 that he was going to end DACA, that tweet was pretty clear: Get your act together, make your arrangements. It’s over,” King went on. “Then the next day, it seemed that things changed a little bit and he opened the door to negotiation” with Democratic leaders Charles Schumer (N.Y.) and Nancy Pelosi (Calif.).

“So you’re saying the president has been waffling on the issue of immigration?” a reporter asked King.

“He knows that,” replied King, who spoke to Trump two weeks ago. “I’ve been talking to him about that. … He says, ‘I’ve got to get this passed 500 people,’ meaning 535 lawmakers, so he’s saying he’s adjusting to the political reality. I say stand on principle.”

Trump: Dems ‘have come to their senses’

2:30 p.m.

12:51 p.m.

The Senate voted Monday to reopen the government, ending a three-day standoff that left federal agencies shuttered and hundreds of thousands of workers furloughed.

Democrats agreed to advance a stopgap spending measure lasting until Feb. 8 after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) promised to allow an immigration bill to reach the floor next month.

The three-week funding bill still needs to pass on a final up-or-down vote, but that is a formality now that the Senate has voted to end dilatory debate.

Pelosi rejects McConnell’s DACA offer

12:48 p.m.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Monday rejected an offer from Senate GOP leaders to end the standoff over the fate of certain immigrants, called “Dreamers,” and clear the way to reopening the shuttered government.

“I don’t see that there’s any reason — I’m speaking personally and hearing from my members — to support what was put forth,” Pelosi told reporters in the Capitol.

House Republicans, who had approved a 30-day continuing resolution last week, appear near-united in their support for the Senate’s similar three-week plan, however.

Senate Dems take deal, clearing way to end shutdown

12:15 p.m.

Senate Democrats say they are accepting a deal with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for an immigration vote, clearing the way for passage of a bill to reopen the federal government. 

McConnell early Monday promised to take up an immigration bill that would protect an estimated 800,000 so-called Dreamers from deportation, under an open amendment process, if Democrats would agree to end the government shutdown. 

“After several discussions, offers and counteroffers, the Republican leader and I have come to an arrangement. We will vote today to reopen the government to continue negotiating a global agreement,” Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said.

Angus King a ‘yes’ on vote to reopen government

12:09 p.m.

Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) is now a “yes” vote on a Senate measure to temporarily fund the government and end the shutdown.

King said while leaving the Democratic caucus meeting Monday morning that it was his impression there would be 60 votes in support of the measure.

Manchin predicts government will reopen soon

12 p.m.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) predicted the government would reopen early Monday afternoon.

He called negotiations to end the shutdown “very positive.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) earlier Monday promised to take up an immigration bill protecting an estimated 800,000 “Dreamers” from deportation and allow an open amendment process if Democrats agree to reopen the government.

GOP senators: Would be helpful if McConnell’s immigration language was stronger 

10:45 a.m.

Republican senators said ahead of a key noon vote that it would be “helpful” if Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s language on taking up an immigration bill was stronger.

“I do think it would be helpful if the language were a little bit stronger,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told reporters.

But she also gave McConnell (R-Ky.) credit saying the GOP Leader “had moved to accommodate the concerns that have been raised” about needing a commitment on immigration.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) predicted McConnell will make a “firmer commitment when it seems like it will matter.”

“I think if Mitch were a little firmer as to ‘we are going to move to immigration. … There will be a process where everybody will be heard’,” he said.

Graham suggested that Democrats go to Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and tell him that they will vote for the CR if McConnell will use more specific language.

McConnell has said he intends to take up an immigration bill if a larger deal can’t be reached by Feb. 8.

But Democrats are quick to point to previous commitments to Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Collins that did not come to fruition.

Flake, asked how Democrats could trust McConnell, noting that the GOP leader was making a “pretty high-profile promise.” 

McConnell promises to take up immigration reform if government reopens

10:28 a.m.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Monday promised to take up an immigration bill protecting an estimated 800,000 “Dreamers” from deportation and allow an open amendment process if Democrats agree to reopen the government.

The Senate will vote at noon on a three-week funding resolution to end the government shutdown that began at midnight Saturday. The legislation includes an extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Democrats have been pressing McConnell for a vote on the Dreamers legislation, and it is unclear whether his latest commitments will be enough to win them over.

Senate Democrats and Republicans will try to negotiate an immigration compromise before the pending stopgap measure would expire on Feb. 8, if that stopgap is approved.

If they fail to reach a deal, McConnell promised he will bring an immigration bill to the floor in February.

But McConnell said his promise to address the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program would only be good if Democrats agree to reopen the government.

“Should these issues not be resolved by the time the funding bill before us expires on Feb. 8,” McConnell said, “so long as the government remains open, it would be my intention to take up legislation here in the Senate that would address DACA, border security and related issues as well as disaster relief.”

Democrats want firmer commitment from McConnell

10:18 a.m.

Democrats leaving a meeting of moderate senators on Monday morning said they are still discussing how to get a firmer commitment from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for a vote to protect young immigrants in the country illegally.

“We just need a commitment on that that’s firm, that we know we’re going to be on it. The question is how firm the commitment [will be],” said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) as he left the meeting in Sen. Susan Collins’s (R-Maine) office.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said they need a “real commitment” to bring up an immigration bill.

No Democrats said they were changing their votes as they left the meeting.

The Senate at noon will vote on ending debate on a measure to fund the government through Feb. 8.

When asked how he would vote, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla) said he thought that vote could be postponed if negotiators need more time.

White House budget chief blasts ‘dysfunction’ among Senate Democrats

8:57 a.m.

White House Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney said Democrats’ inability to reach an agreement on a government funding measure is an indication of dysfunction within the party.

“This is something the likes of which Washington has never seen before. This is a bill that Democrats support. Yet they are still not voting for it. They oppose the bill but they don’t really oppose the parts of it,” Mulvaney said on “CBS This Morning.” 

“It’s the first time I think anybody can remember seeing this in Washington. Maybe it speaks to how bad the dysfunction is within the Senate Democrats,” Mulvaney added.

GOP senator: ‘I don’t think we should wait for the president’ on shutdown deal

8:30 a.m.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said Monday that Congress should not wait for President Trump as lawmakers negotiate over a deal to end the government shutdown, arguing it is the legislative branch’s job to fund the government.

“I do not know where the president is,” Kennedy told CNN’s “New Day” when asked if he knew Trump’s position on the issues currently under discussion.

“I don’t think we should wait for the president. Presumably, he’s thinking it through. He’s watching to see what we’re doing.”

The Louisiana lawmaker argued it is up to him and his colleagues to reach a deal to end the shutdown.

“The executive branch, as you well know, is separate from the legislative branch. And it’s our job to fund government and keep government open,” Kennedy said.

“And I don’t think we ought to spend a lot of time waiting to hear from the president. He’ll weigh in when he’s ready to weigh in.”

Trump: Democrats shut down government to appease ‘far left base’

8:27 a.m.

President Trump early Monday slammed Democrats over the government shutdown, accusing the party of closing the federal government to appease “their far left base.”

“Democrats have shut down our government in the interests of their far left base,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “They don’t want to do it but are powerless!”

The president also blasted Democrats over immigration, charging that the lawmakers are withholding services for American citizens to obtain services “for non-citizens.”

“The Democrats are turning down services and security for citizens in favor of services and security for non-citizens. Not good!” Trump said. 

Sen. Cardin: ‘You can’t operate with continuing resolutions’

8:25 a.m.

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) on Monday said Democrats want to open the government, but argued it is impractical to continue passing stopgap measures instead of a full budget.

“You got to draw a line at some point. You can’t operate with continuing resolutions. We’ve heard that from the department of defense, we’ve heard that from the other agencies. We could have four weeks kicking the can down the road, it’s not going to help anyone,” Cardin said on CNN’s “New Day.”

Republicans, meanwhile, have pinned the shutdown on Democrats, saying they’re holding government funding hostage over the immigration debate.

Cardin said Democrats want to open the government, but he wants to see Congress pass a full budget.

“Our goal was to make sure we have a budget for our country, a fair budget for our country, that we take up issues that are critically important that we have a pathway to get them resolved. If we can do that I am hopeful we can see an agreement,” Cardin said.