President Donald Trump and Senate Democrats struck a deal Thursday to avert a prolonged shutdown for most of the federal government, according to Trump and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office.
The deal would fund all of the government except for the Department of Homeland Security through September. DHS would operate on a two-week stopgap bill, buying Congress more time to debate proposed changes to immigration enforcement
The agreement still requires approval in both chambers before the funding deadline, and a brief partial shutdown remains possible if lawmakers do not act in time.
The standoff began after Senate Democrats blocked a key funding bill, citing the recent killings of two civilians — Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti — by federal immigration agents as evidence of the need for reform.
“We’ve got to make sure that DHS conducts itself like every other law enforcement agency in the country,” said Hakeem Jeffries, the House Minority leader, “that the masks come off, that there are body cameras, that there are judicial warrants required before ICE can storm homes or rip people violently out of their cars.”
Republicans, including President Donald Trump, oppose those changes, arguing they could hinder enforcement and border security.
If the Senate vote is not delayed on Friday, the House is expected to vote as early as Monday afternoon.
