The risk of a partial U.S. government shutdown increased Friday after new resistance emerged in the Senate, threatening to derail a tentative agreement aimed at keeping federal agencies funded past the looming deadline.
The framework, announced earlier this week by Senate Democrats alongside President Donald Trump, was designed to prevent disruptions across major government functions — including defense, healthcare, labor programs, and social services — while lawmakers continue negotiations over controversial limits on the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement strategy.
However, the deal’s path forward has grown uncertain. Even if Senate leaders manage to clear the agreement, it would still require approval from the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, which is currently out of session. House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged Thursday that recalling lawmakers to Washington before the midnight funding deadline would be logistically difficult, raising the likelihood of at least a short-term lapse in funding.
Shutdown Could Be Brief — but Tensions Are High
Despite the growing uncertainty, congressional leaders from both parties have indicated that any shutdown would likely be short-lived. Unlike previous budget standoffs, lawmakers have made clear they want to avoid allowing disagreements over immigration policy to disrupt the broader operation of government.
That marks a notable shift from last fall, when a bitter partisan fight over healthcare funding triggered a historic 43-day government shutdown — the longest in U.S. history — which economists later estimated cost the economy more than $11 billion.
This time, negotiators have attempted to compartmentalize the conflict.
Immigration at the Center of the Standoff
Under the proposed arrangement, funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would be carved out from the larger spending package. That would allow Congress to approve funding for agencies such as the Pentagon, the Department of Labor, and federal health programs while separately debating new constraints on immigration enforcement operations.
Democrats have pushed for that separation following mounting outrage over recent immigration enforcement actions. Tensions escalated after federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a nurse and U.S. citizen with no criminal record, during an operation in Minneapolis last weekend. The incident marked the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen involving immigration agents this month.
The shootings prompted protests and widespread criticism, leading the Trump administration to temporarily scale back operations in the region.
Democrats Demand Oversight, Republicans Signal Openness
In response, Senate Democrats threatened to block the broader funding bill unless DHS practices are curtailed. Their proposals include ending roving patrols, requiring immigration agents to wear body cameras, banning face coverings during enforcement actions, and mandating judicial warrants rather than internal approvals for searches.
Republicans have resisted sweeping changes but signaled openness to limited reforms, particularly regarding transparency measures such as body cameras.
As part of the compromise, DHS funding would be extended for two weeks, giving lawmakers additional time to negotiate enforcement standards without forcing a full government shutdown.
Political Pressure Mounts
The funding impasse comes as the Trump administration faces growing scrutiny over its immigration policies, particularly from moderate lawmakers concerned about public backlash and potential legal challenges. Civil rights groups have also called for federal investigations into recent enforcement operations.
With the deadline fast approaching and Congress divided, Washington now faces a familiar question: whether lawmakers can bridge political differences in time to keep the government running — or whether Americans will once again feel the effects of a shutdown driven by partisan gridlock.
