Congress is a very superstitious place. Only on Capitol Hill do time markers like Groundhog Day and Friday the 13th have legislative resonance.

The partial government shutdown will last until at least Tuesday. Democrats last week shelved multiple spending plans over concerns about ICE, which affects 78% of the federal government.

The House of Representatives is now tasked with Revised plan passed by Senate Starting on Friday. The bill would provide funding to the Pentagon, HUD, transportation programs and many agencies through September 30. But because of Democratic demands for ICE reform, the bill can only temporarily operate the Department of Homeland Security.

Many House Democrats balked at the plan supported by many Senate Democrats on Friday. That has led to uncertainty about whether the House can reopen the government this week. First, House Democrats argued that they were not party to the deal that many Senate Democrats reached to partially fund the government and merely put a Band-Aid on funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

Party-breaking Democrat says his vote on Homeland Security funding after second Minneapolis shooting on ice was a ‘mistake’

The partial government shutdown will last until at least Tuesday. (Kevin Dickey/Getty Images)

Last March, when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other Democrats agreed to help Republicans avoid a government shutdown, House Democrats (not privately) were seething. So last Thursday, I asked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) if he and Schumer were on the same page this time.

“First of all, this question is March 2025,” Jeffries scolded.

He then cited a litany of examples of House and Senate Democratic alliances, from health care to the fall government shutdown. Jeffries then answered the question.

“Yes. Short answer. We’re on the same page,” Jeffries said.

Then a warning was added – February 2026.

“Now, as always with what comes out of the Senate, we will evaluate any bill that comes before us on its merits,” Jeffries said.

Some Democrats expressed satisfaction with the funding deal. Moderate Democrats don’t want the government shutdown to continue. The politics at home are terrible. Others received earmarks they received in funding programs. Yet progressives argue they can’t support any funding bill until they see concrete plans to reform ICE. Not to mention some on the left want to defund ICE.

Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, said: “I will vote against this funding package. I refuse to give another penny to (White House Counsel) Stephen Miller or (Homeland Security Secretary) Kristi Noem.”

But Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, plans to vote in favor. The bill funds most government funding for the remainder of the fiscal year. This buys time to seal the deal on ICE.

“If we don’t do this, we won’t be able to apply the pressure necessary to ensure that ICE does not continue to terrorize our communities,” DeLauro said.

So there may be votes to pass the bill. But the real issue may lie in the test vote, known as the rules.

The House must first approve the rule to determine how to proceed with the House bill. If the House adopts the rules, the bill can be debated and voted on. If the vote on the rules fails, the show is over.

Some Republicans may oppose the provision. Democrats have made clear they will not facilitate the procedural steps typically taken by the majority party.

“Republicans have a responsibility to change this rule,” Jeffries said. “If they have significant authority, pass your rules.”

House Republicans are feeling the heat.

House Freedom Caucus draws line on DHS, Ice Agency funding as Minneapolis unrest heightens shutdown risk

Last March, House Democrats boiled when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats agreed to help Republicans avoid a government shutdown. (Photo by Kevin Dickey/Getty Images)

“We always work until midnight to get votes. You never start the process with everyone involved,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Los Angeles).

It’s about math.

The Republican majority shrank on Monday after Rep. Christian Menifee (D-TX) was sworn in. He won a special election in Texas over the weekend. The Republican majority currently leads 218-214. In other words, if every lawmaker votes, Republicans can lose a vote and still pass a bill on their own.

“Will his election make your job harder tomorrow?” I asked the Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (Los Angeles Republican) met during his swearing-in ceremony with Menifee.

“We have a one-vote advantage now. So what could go wrong? That’s OK. We’re happy for him. And, I hope the first vote isn’t to shut down the government. That’s not a good way to start,” Johnson said.

“Are you going to make things a little harder on the Republican side tomorrow?” I asked Menifee.

“I just got elected on Saturday and I jumped out of a plane and came here. So my first job was to figure out what a bathroom was,” Menifee said.

I followed.

“Does that mean there won’t be a vote tomorrow?”

“That means I have to think about these issues very thoughtfully and vote in line with my values,” Menifee said.

“Good answer!” Johnson exclaimed ecstatically.

So everything comes down to rules voting. If the House gets past this procedural hurdle, it could pass the bill End shutdown. If not, you’re in trouble.

President Donald Trump said in a post on The Truth Society that he hopes a bipartisan solution can be found to address what he calls a “long, senseless and destructive government shutdown.”

Maybe it’s appropriate to end the government shutdown on Groundhog Day with everyone talking about it. Especially after last fall’s record 43-day shutdown.

By the way, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. He expects six more weeks of winter. After all this funding scramble, when will anyone ask Phil for his predictions about a government shutdown?

But forget Groundhog Day. What everyone should really be focusing on is Friday the 13th. Within a week from Friday. If the House aligns with the Senate and ends the partial government shutdown, lawmakers have until 11:59:59 PM on Friday the 13th to make a decision. Fund Department of Homeland Security. Otherwise, DHS remains broke. again. That means FEMA has a problem. TSA agents don’t get paid. You name it.

Senate Democrats threaten shutdown by blocking DHS funding after Minnesota ice shooting

President Donald Trump said he hopes a bipartisan solution can be found to address what he calls a “long, senseless and destructive government shutdown.” (Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo)

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It is difficult to solve ICE’s problems in such a tight time frame.

“Republicans need to take a closer look at what’s happening across the country and realize that now is the time to curb ICE abuses,” Schumer said.

Some Republicans agree.

“We should be focusing on criminals, gang members, people with active deportation orders. I don’t think we should be focusing on people who have been here for a long time, like grandmothers and so on, who happen to be nearby when you take enforcement action,” Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., told Fox Business. “I think that was a mistake, and I think it’s coming back to haunt us now.”

As a result, there is bipartisan agreement to address ICE. But the reforms must pass the House and Senate before Friday the 13th.

Only Congress can create such a nightmare.