House Delays Vote on Ending Government Shutdown as Tensions Rise

Democrats push for Iran war powers resolution, while GOP blocks DHS funding bill

Apr. 12, 2026 at 5:20pm

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A fragmented, abstract painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and waves of muted blue, grey, and red tones, conceptually representing the political dysfunction and division surrounding the government shutdown.The political gridlock in Washington threatens to prolong the government shutdown and undermine national security.Montgomery Today

The House of Representatives is set to return from recess on Monday, April 13, but a vote to end the ongoing government shutdown is unlikely. Instead, House Democrats are focused on pushing through an Iran war powers resolution aimed at limiting President Trump's military actions. Meanwhile, a bipartisan DHS funding bill passed the Senate, but is stalled in the House as the conservative House Freedom Caucus refuses to support the measure over its exclusion of ICE and Border Patrol funding.

Why it matters

The government shutdown, now in its eighth week, has left the Department of Homeland Security unfunded, impacting critical agencies like the TSA. Tensions are rising as Democrats try to rein in the President's war powers while Republicans in the House block a path to reopen DHS. This political standoff threatens to prolong the shutdown and its impacts on federal workers and national security.

The details

The House will return to session on Monday, April 13, but a vote to end the DHS shutdown is not on the schedule. Instead, House Democrats led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Glenn Ivey will attempt to force a vote on an Iran war powers resolution to limit President Trump's military actions. However, their efforts were blocked by House Republicans during a pro forma session last week. Meanwhile, a bipartisan DHS funding bill passed the Senate, but is stalled in the House as the conservative House Freedom Caucus refuses to support the measure due to its exclusion of ICE and Border Patrol funding.

  • The House will return to session at 2:30 p.m. ET on Monday, April 13.
  • A Senate vote to force a vote on an Iran war powers resolution is expected next week when the Senate returns from recess.
  • The soonest a House vote to end the DHS shutdown could occur is Tuesday, April 14.

The players

Hakeem Jeffries

House Minority Leader, a Democrat from New York.

Glenn Ivey

Democratic Congressman from Maryland.

Chris Smith

Republican Congressman serving as House Speaker Pro Tempore.

Madeleine Dean

Democratic Congresswoman from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Mike Johnson

Republican Congressman from Louisiana and House Speaker.

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What they’re saying

“Over the weekend, we read and heard the president's Easter morning tweet of profanity, blasphemy, danger and, the following day, his threat to eliminate an entire civilization. Pause there. These are not normal times America. When will my Republican colleagues stand up in the House, in the Senate, the vice president, the Cabinet secretaries who surround this madman? When will they grow a spine? When will they say, 'Stop'?”

— Madeleine Dean, Congresswoman

What’s next

Senate Democrats led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer plan to force a vote on a war powers resolution next week when the Senate returns from recess, though the timing remains unclear. A House vote to end the DHS shutdown is unlikely to happen until at least Tuesday, April 14.

The takeaway

The political standoff over the government shutdown and the President's war powers has escalated tensions in Congress, further complicating efforts to reopen the Department of Homeland Security and address broader national security concerns. Both parties appear dug in, raising the prospect of a prolonged impasse with no clear resolution in sight.