House Leader Urges Immediate Action to Avoid Further Government Shutdown

By Theodore Bunker
Monday, 02 February 2026 12:44 PM EST

Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., a member of the House Ways and Means and Veterans Affairs committees, urged lawmakers on Monday to “keep our government funded.” He emphasized that despite deepening disputes over funding the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Congress should avoid a partial government shutdown.

The House operates with a narrow Republican majority as lawmakers remain deadlocked over DHS funding after broader government appropriations lapsed, forcing dozens of federal agencies into partial shutdown status and furloughing employees. The Senate was unable to advance a full funding package this week, with disputes over DHS and ICE enforcement policies blocking an agreement.

“I absolutely think there’s time to pull back and reassess what has been done in Minnesota,” Murphy said, referring to recent protests following deadly shootings by federal agents. “But we need to keep our government funded.”

Murphy noted that demonstrations in Minneapolis have amplified calls from Democrats for stricter oversight of ICE and other enforcement agencies. He described the current opposition as a “protest vote against what the ICE agents are doing now,” adding, “Whether this is all just to kind of obscure all the nonsense with fraud which has happened in Minnesota, who knows? This is only happened in Minnesota now — obviously it’s spreading because that’s what we’re seeing ever since President Donald Trump came into office: protest, protest.”

Democrats and some Republicans have criticized ICE and other DHS components following public outrage over recent enforcement actions and shootings in Minneapolis and other cities. Senate Democrats have sought changes in exchange for funding, complicating bipartisan negotiations.

Murphy stressed the urgency of broader government funding, stating, “Let’s get on with moving the government… let’s keep our nation safe and let’s keep moving forward.” He acknowledged the narrow GOP majority in the House — now down to a one-vote margin due to recent membership changes — as critical for passing funding bills.

“The House is operating with a narrow Republican majority,” Murphy said. “This is as thin as it, in my understanding, thin as it’s ever gotten.”

Murphy also noted that some Republican colleagues “vote against anything on the Republican side,” making unity essential to pass funding. While negotiations over DHS and ICE funding continue, he insisted they should not delay funding for the military and other core government functions.

“If it takes time that we have some discussions about DHS and ICE, etc., that’s fine,” Murphy said. “But let’s keep our military funded. Let’s keep everything else funded.”

The standoff has triggered a partial shutdown that began Saturday as federal funding lapsed for multiple departments. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., signaled confidence that the House could approve most funding bills by Tuesday, even as DHS remains a flashpoint in negotiations.

Murphy’s remarks underscore broader Republican efforts to balance internal party divisions, bipartisan negotiations, and public backlash over immigration enforcement as Capitol Hill races to restore full government funding.