Senate Approves Funding Deal to Avoid Government Shutdown: What You Need to Know
The Senate approved a funding deal brokered by the White House, setting the stage for a House vote next week to avoid a government shutdown. The deal, which passed the Senate with a 71-29 vote, addresses key spending bills for the rest of the fiscal year. Democrats agreed to a two-week extension for the Department of Homeland Security to allow more time for negotiations on immigration enforcement. The House, currently on recess, will return on Monday to consider the bills.
President Donald Trump supported the deal and urged senators to back it to prevent a government shutdown. Some senators initially blocked the legislation to push for their own priorities. Sen. Lindsey Graham was a prominent opponent but later lifted his objections in exchange for future votes on legislation penalizing "sanctuary cities" and providing monetary damages for groups affected by surveillance. Several amendment votes were proposed but failed before the final passage of the funding bill.
Democrats secured a two-week extension for DHS funding, a compromise from the four to six weeks sought by Republicans. This extension was crucial to win over enough Democrats who had blocked a full-year bill earlier. Democrats have specific demands for ICE reforms, including tightening warrant requirements, mandating coordination with local law enforcement, implementing use-of-force rules, and prohibiting agents from concealing their identities. Negotiating these concessions in a short time frame will be challenging.
Even if the Department of Homeland Security were to shut down, ICE operations would still be funded from money approved in the previous year's tax law. The focus now is on reaching a compromise that both parties can accept before the deadline to avoid a government shutdown.