Congress Has Five Days to Avoid Another Government Shutdown

Summary

Patrick McHenry, former Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and former Speaker Pro Tempore, joins Bloomberg to discuss the looming Department of Homeland Security funding deadline and the high likelihood that no deal will be reached this week. He explains the Senate's tight timeline, the political calculus for Senate Democrats between allowing a continuing resolution and forcing a DHS shutdown, and why a long-term CR may be the best outcome for both sides. The conversation also covers the State of the Union as a potential inflection point for President Trump's immigration message, the political warning from a Texas special election, and broader midterm dynamics around immigration and affordability.

• Congress has less than five days to avoid a partial DHS shutdown; McHenry says no deal will happen this week.
• Senate floor timing requires an agreement within roughly 48 hours for a real deal to pass, which is now impossible.
• The key question is whether Senate Democrats allow a continuing resolution for DHS or force a shutdown.
• McHenry argues a DHS shutdown would politically benefit the administration and President Trump.
• He favors a long-term DHS continuing resolution and then fighting the issue on the campaign trail.
• The State of the Union on February 24 is framed as an inflection point for Trump's immigration message.
• A Texas special election that swung 31 points against Republicans is described as a bad omen for the midterms.
• McHenry says immigration enforcement and economic affordability are the key drivers of midterm turnout.