Senate Passes Funding Bill as Partial US Government Shutdown Looms

The Senate passed a compromise spending package Friday, clearing a path for Congress to avert a lengthy government shutdown.

The 71-29 vote came a day after Senate Democrats and President Donald Trump struck a deal to attach two weeks of Homeland Security funding to five spending bills that will fund the Pentagon, State Department, and many other agencies until September 30.

However, the Senate did not avert a partial shutdown that will start early Saturday morning since House lawmakers are out of town and not scheduled to return until Monday.

That means a shutdown is all but certain to begin at 12:01 a.m. EST Saturday, but could be brief.

Lawmakers from both parties are now working to ensure a debate over immigration enforcement does not disrupt other government operations.

However, the $1.2 trillion package could face challenges in the House, especially from conservative hard-liners, who have said that they would vote against any government Senate changes to what the House has already passed.

Debate Over Immigration Enforcement Tactics

The deal approved by the Senate would separate funding for the Department of Homeland Security from the broader funding package, allowing lawmakers to approve spending for some agencies.

Senate Democrats, angered by the shooting of a second US citizen by immigration agents in Minneapolis last weekend, had threatened to hold up the funding package in an effort to force Trump to rein in DHS.

Democrats want to end roving patrols, require agents to wear body cameras, and prohibit them from wearing face masks. DHS funding would be extended for two weeks, giving negotiators time to reach an agreement on immigration tactics.

“I want my Republican colleagues to listen closely: Senate Democrats will not support a DHS bill unless it reins in ICE and ends the violence,” Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer said. “We will know soon enough if your colleagues understand the stakes.”

Republicans have demands of their own, and many believe the most likely outcome is that another DHS patch will be needed.