After days of brinkmanship and late-night negotiations, Senate Democrats and the White House struck a deal to keep the government funded — but the agreement has not fully cleared the path away from a partial shutdown.
According to Fox News, the breakthrough came Thursday following hours of back-and-forth between Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and President Donald Trump.
Talks stretched from late Wednesday night into Thursday evening, marked by sharp disagreements, last-minute demands, and public finger-pointing from both sides.
At the center of the dispute was how to handle funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which Democrats insisted be separated from a broader spending package.
“The separation of the five bipartisan bills the Democrats asked for, plus the two-week DHS [continuing resolution] has been agreed to,” Schumer said in a statement.
President Donald Trump framed the agreement as a necessary step to keep Washington moving and avoid economic fallout.
“The only thing that can slow our Country down is another long and damaging Government Shutdown,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“I am working hard with Congress to ensure that we are able to fully fund the Government, without delay,” the president added. “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.”
Under the agreement, DHS funding would be stripped out of the six-bill spending package. Democrats have made clear they are prepared to support the remaining five bills — including Pentagon funding — once DHS is removed.
Lawmakers also agreed to a short-term continuing resolution to fund DHS for two weeks while negotiations continue over Immigration and Customs Enforcement restrictions.
The deal followed a failed test vote earlier Thursday, when Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., pushed the package forward only to see it blocked by Democrats and seven Republican senators.
While Republicans can bring the package back to the floor, doing so quickly would require unanimous consent — a tall order as internal GOP concerns linger.
Several Republican senators objected to earmarks included in the bill, while Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is pressing for an amendment vote to remove millions in what he called “refugee welfare money,” warning he could delay proceedings if his demand is ignored.
Despite those tensions, some Republicans argued the compromise was preferable to a shutdown.
“That’s the only way we’re going to get through this without a long government shutdown,” Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said.
Even if the Senate advances the plan, its fate remains uncertain in the House, which is out until next week. Fiscal conservatives there have already criticized the agreement, leaving lawmakers under continued pressure as the shutdown clock keeps ticking.
