Johnson Signs Budget, Averts Shutdown; Faith Leaders Denied Access to ICE Detainees on Christmas Eve

Mayor Brandon Johnson delivered an early Christmas gift to city employees Wednesday, signing the $16.6 billion budget he had spent weeks opposing rather than risk an unprecedented government shutdown.

The decision came just days before the December 31 deadline and ensures that the city’s 38,000 workers will receive their paychecks as scheduled. But Johnson made clear his disappointment with a spending plan that strips out his signature corporate head tax in favor of alternative revenue measures.

“I am signing this budget because the alternative—a shutdown that would devastate working families—is unacceptable,” Johnson said in a written statement released Wednesday afternoon. “But let me be clear: this budget is a missed opportunity. Large corporations will continue to enjoy record profits while Chicago’s neighborhoods struggle.”

The announcement ended weeks of speculation about whether Johnson would exercise his veto power. In the end, the political and practical costs of a shutdown proved too high.

Objections Remain

Johnson’s allies expressed frustration that the council’s budget relies on one-time revenue sources and fund sweeps rather than the sustainable income stream the head tax would have provided.

“We’re going to be right back here next year having the same fight,” said Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th), a Johnson ally. “The structural deficit hasn’t gone away. We’ve just papered over it.”

Business groups, meanwhile, celebrated the outcome as a victory for economic competitiveness.

“This budget shows that Chicago can address its fiscal challenges without driving employers away,” said Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce president Jack Lavin. “We look forward to working with the mayor and council on pro-growth policies in the coming year.”

The signed budget includes modest increases for violence intervention programs, pothole repairs, and mental health services, though far less than Johnson had sought. It also assumes continued federal transit funding despite the Trump administration’s threats to withhold dollars over CTA security concerns.

Faith Leaders Denied at ICE Facility

In a separate development that drew national attention, a group of Chicago-area faith leaders was denied access to the Broadview ICE detention facility on Christmas Eve when they attempted to pray with detainees.

Rev. Marshall Hatch of the New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in West Garfield Park led the delegation, which included ministers, priests, and rabbis representing congregations across the Chicago area. They arrived at the facility around 10 a.m. seeking permission to hold a brief interfaith prayer service.

“We were told no one would be allowed inside,” Rev. Hatch said. “Everybody has a right to be treated with dignity, and everybody has a right to share in Christmas joy. That includes people in detention.”

ICE officials said the facility was operating under holiday protocols and that the visit had not been pre-arranged.

“Like any correctional facility, visits must be scheduled in advance and approved,” an ICE spokesperson said in a statement. “The detainees at Broadview have access to religious services provided by on-site chaplains.”

The incident drew immediate condemnation from immigrant rights advocates and elected officials.

“Denying people of faith the ability to minister to the detained on Christmas Eve is cruel and un-American,” said State Representative Delia Ramirez. “This administration’s war on immigrants knows no bounds.”

A Foggy Christmas

Meteorologically, Chicago experienced an unusual Christmas Day, with fog and drizzle replacing the hoped-for white Christmas. Temperatures reached into the mid-40s, well above average for late December and a stark contrast to the record snowfall earlier in the month.

“The only thing blanketing Chicago rooftops today is fog,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Amy Seeley. “It’s been a strange winter—record snow followed by unseasonable warmth. That’s climate change for you.”

Most city offices and services were closed for the holiday. The CTA operated on a Sunday schedule, and Metra ran a modified service with reduced frequency.

Despite the political turmoil and weather disappointments, Chicagoans found ways to celebrate. Churches across the city held Christmas services, families gathered for meals, and children opened presents.

“Whatever else is happening in the world, Christmas is Christmas,” said Maria Gonzalez of Pilsen, who attended Mass at St. Pius V Church with her extended family. “We’re together, we’re healthy, and we’re grateful.”

The new year approaches with significant challenges awaiting Chicago—ongoing budget pressures, federal immigration enforcement, and a contentious political environment. But for one day, at least, the city took a breath.

Merry Christmas, Chicago.