White House And Senate Dems Strike Deal Ahead Of Government Shutdown
The White House and Senate Democrats have struck a deal on funding on the eve of a partial government shutdown.
The deal includes separating funding for the Department of Homeland Security from five other appropriations bills, all previously approved by the House, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) office told CNN. The passage of the other five appropriations bills will ensure that almost all of the government remains funded through September.
Funding for the Department of Homeland Security will be approved on a short-term basis in a continuing resolution due to run out after two weeks. In that two weeks, lawmakers are expected to negotiate over reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to NBC News.
President Donald Trump urged lawmakers to pass the reformed spending package in a post on Truth Social on Thursday evening.
“I am working hard with Congress to ensure that we are able to fully fund the Government, without delay,” the president said.
“Republicans and Democrats in Congress have come together to get the vast majority of the Government funded until September, while at the same time providing an extension to the Department of Homeland Security (including the very important Coast Guard, which we are expanding and rebuilding like never before). Hopefully, both Republicans and Democrats will give a very much needed Bipartisan ‘YES’ Vote,” he continued.
After the deal was reached between the White House and Schumer, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) began to take steps to vote on the package on Thursday night. Funding for the portions of the government under the six appropriations bills is set to run out on Friday at 11:59 p.m. EST.
The government is still expected to fall into a partial shutdown on Friday at midnight even with the deal, though the impact of the partial shutdown should be minimal as it is expected to only last the weekend. The new spending package must be passed again in the House, which is not scheduled to be back in session until Monday.
The fight over Homeland Security funding exploded this week, spurred on by controversy over immigration enforcement in Minnesota after the shooting deaths of two Americans, Renee Goode and Alex Pretti. Senate Democrats have refused to pass funding for the department that oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border and Customs Protection without reforms.
The last government shutdown lasted a record-breaking 43 days, from the beginning of October to mid-November 2025. The primary issue that led to the shutdown was the renewal of Affordable Care Act subsidies. The House passed an extension in early January, but the Senate hasn’t voted on the issue yet, while health care premiums for many Americans have increased.
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