WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Friday that lawmakers reached a bipartisan funding deal aimed at averting a prolonged government shutdown, even as a partial shutdown appeared unavoidable heading into the weekend. Republicans and Democrats moved quickly to schedule a Senate vote, but the House of Representatives remained out of session, delaying final approval.
The agreement comes amid intense political pressure following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. The deaths disrupted spending talks and gave Democrats new leverage over immigration enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security.
The federal government faced a midnight deadline Friday to keep agencies funded. Senate leaders announced a deal to pass five spending bills that already have bipartisan support. These bills would fund major departments, including Defense, Labor, and Health and Human Services, through September.
However, lawmakers carved out funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Instead of full-year funding, DHS would receive a two-week stopgap measure. That extension would allow further talks on reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which operates under DHS. Schumer said the compromise would keep most of the government running while giving Congress time to address serious concerns about immigration enforcement tactics.
The talks took a sharp turn after the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis. Federal agents shot both individuals during a surge of immigration enforcement operations. Authorities later confirmed that both victims were U.S. citizens. In response, Senate Democrats blocked passage of the DHS funding bill. That move threatened the broader spending package and increased pressure on Republicans to negotiate.
Schumer called for reforms that would set clearer rules for federal agents. He said officers should wear body cameras, follow a strict code of conduct, stop wearing masks, and end what he described as roving patrols targeting suspected undocumented immigrants.
“These are basic standards people already expect from law enforcement,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. He urged swift action to move the funding package forward.
Even with Senate agreement, the deal faces a timing problem. The House of Representatives is not scheduled to return until Monday. That delay makes a partial government shutdown unavoidable, at least through the weekend. House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged the situation in an interview with USA Today. He said the earliest House vote would likely come Monday. Johnson said Republicans want to fund the government and avoid long-term disruption.
The shutdown would affect several federal departments, forcing some offices to close and services to slow down. Essential services would continue, but many federal workers could face temporary furloughs.
The Senate vote faced delays after Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham objected to a provision in the package. The language would restore lawmakers’ ability to sue the government if the FBI obtained their phone records during investigations. The FBI had gathered such records during its probe into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Graham sought the removal of that provision and blocked unanimous consent. His office did not comment publicly on the objection.
Meanwhile, the deal highlights growing Democratic efforts to place limits on President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign. The administration began the effort shortly after Trump returned to office last year. Since then, immigration agents have carried out hundreds of thousands of arrests and deportations.
Even if the Senate passes the package, its future in the House remains uncertain. Republicans hold a narrow 218-213 majority. A small group of conservatives could block the deal. Some right-wing lawmakers want to attach additional legislation, including the Save Act. That bill would require voters to show identification, a move critics say would disenfranchise many Americans.
Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said every spending bill should include the Save Act. Democratic leaders rejected that demand. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries warned Republicans would take the blame if internal divisions trigger a longer shutdown.
A shutdown would not stop immigration enforcement. ICE already has significant funding from legislation passed last year. The administration could also require agents to keep working during a shutdown. As Congress races against the clock, the deal offers a path to reopen the government soon. But deep divisions over immigration policy and spending priorities continue to shape the debate.
