President Trump and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer are nearing an agreement that could avert a government shutdown for multiple federal agencies when funding expires early Saturday, January 31st. Negotiations are centered on new restrictions for federal immigration enforcement officers.
On January 28th, media reports citing two informed officials revealed that the new proposal would separate the funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from a package of six spending bills. This would allow military, medical programs, and other federal agencies to receive funding for the remainder of the fiscal year before the deadline at midnight local time on Friday, January 30th.
Congress is also considering a short-term extension for DHS operations to prevent service disruptions at the Transportation Security Administration, the Coast Guard, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This temporary bill would buy time for congressional negotiators and the White House, with the core of the talks focusing on new tactical restrictions for federal immigration enforcement officers—a key Democratic demand—and strengthening accountability mechanisms for allegations of excessive use of force.
Although officials stress the agreement is not yet final and faces multiple obstacles, this progress marks a critical step for Washington in breaking the budget impasse. Senator Susan Collins, the Republican Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, stated that both sides are moving towards resolving the crisis. She said, "The White House and the Senate seem to be making good progress to avoid a government shutdown."
According to reports detailing the plan from informed officials, the Senate will strip the DHS funding from the six-bill package, prioritizing the passage of the other five bills to ensure critical government departments receive funds before Friday's midnight deadline. These bills cover operating funds for the military, medical programs, and other federal agencies for the rest of the fiscal year.
Simultaneously, Congress will consider passing a short-term extension bill for the Department of Homeland Security to avoid service disruptions in critical departments like the TSA, Coast Guard, and FEMA. This temporary measure would provide buffer time for Congress and the White House to redraft the DHS spending bill with new restrictive clauses.
Informed officials emphasized that the agreement is not finalized and multiple hurdles remain. It is currently unclear how this potential deal will impact the test vote on the spending bills scheduled for Thursday morning.
Senate Democratic Leader Schumer had previously pressured Majority Leader, Republican Senator John Thune, to split the six-bill package and allow for a rewrite of the DHS bill. This demand gained urgency following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
According to a Xinhua News Agency report, a fatal immigration enforcement shooting occurred again on the morning of January 24th in Minneapolis, the largest city in Minnesota, resulting in the death of a 37-year-old male U.S. citizen. On January 25th, President Trump stated in an interview that the government was "reviewing everything" regarding the incident and had not yet reached a conclusion on the appropriateness of the involved federal officers' actions.
Reportedly, informed officials disclosed that Senate Democrats had clearly outlined their conditions earlier on Wednesday: before supporting continued funding for DHS, the Trump administration must alter the enforcement methods of its immigration crackdown operations. The specific Democratic demands include:
Federal officers executing Trump's deportation actions must remove their face coverings, wear body cameras, cease random searches, warrantless searches and arrests, and establish an accountability mechanism for personnel accused of excessive force.
Thune initially resisted splitting the bills but also encouraged Schumer to seek a deal with the administration. The progress made on Wednesday evening was based precisely on these clear demands put forward by Democrats.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Collins expressed optimism about the negotiation progress. She stated, "The White House and the Senate seem to be making good progress to avoid a government shutdown." This comment indicates a positive attitude from senior Republicans toward reaching an agreement.
If a deal is ultimately reached, it would signal a compromise by the Trump administration on its immigration enforcement policies, accepting congressional oversight and restrictions on enforcement conduct. It would also provide Democrats with significant leverage in the immigration policy debate, embedding specific constraints on enforcement actions within the funding authorization.
Notably, Tom Homan, the border affairs chief dispatched by Trump to quell unrest in Minneapolis, plans to hold a press conference on Thursday morning local time, coinciding with the Senate's test vote.