House Republicans narrowly advanced a $1.2 trillion spending package Thursday (January 22) after overcoming internal divisions over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) funding and ethanol fuel regulations.
The legislation cleared a critical procedural “rule vote” by the slimmest possible margin, passing 214-213 after a prolonged standoff on the House floor. This vote allows for debate and final consideration of the package, which will fund several key government departments for fiscal year 2026.
The package includes funding for the departments of War, Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security. It will be split into two separate bills for final votes later Thursday, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) portion, which includes ICE funding, expected to face significant Democratic opposition.
“Bipartisan, bicameral negotiations are complex and take time. As with our previous packages, the outcome reflects the reality of serious governing, shared contributions and shared compromise,” said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., led overnight negotiations to resolve a threatened rebellion from Midwestern Republicans who demanded provisions allowing year-round sales of E15 ethanol fuel. The compromise established an “E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council” that will balance energy priorities between ethanol-producing states and those leading in oil and gas production. The council must submit legislative recommendations by February 25, 2026.
The DHS funding bill has become particularly contentious following the death of Renee Nicole Good in a confrontation with ICE agents in Minnesota earlier this month. The legislation maintains the $10 billion in funding for ICE appropriated in 2025, but includes new requirements that ICE agents wear body cameras and undergo additional training on public interaction. It also reduces some allocations for ICE’s removal activities.
Progressive Democrats, led by Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., have threatened to oppose any DHS funding without significant reforms to ICE operations. “I am glad to announce that the Congressional Progressive Caucus has adopted an official position to hold ICE accountable. Our caucus members will oppose all funding for immigration enforcement in any appropriations bills until meaningful reforms are enacted to end militarized policing practices,” Omar stated last week.
The House also unanimously approved an amendment to strike language from previously passed spending legislation that would have given senators the power to retroactively sue the government for scraping their cell phone data during the Arctic Frost investigation into President Donald Trump‘s actions after the 2020 election.
If the spending package passes both chambers, it will complete the funding process for fiscal year 2026 and avert a government shutdown before the January 30 deadline. Congress has already passed six of the twelve required appropriations bills.
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