US Government Stares at Brief Shutdown Despite Senate Passing Funding Bill
The United States government is reportedly on the brink of a partial shutdown this weekend, even after the US Senate approved a last-minute funding deal backed by President Donald Trump. According to a Reuters report, the shutdown is almost certain to commence at 12:01 am Eastern time on Saturday (0501 GMT), marking a temporary halt in federal operations.
Why a Brief US Government Shutdown Is Likely
The government funding bill, which includes changes demanded by Democrats concerned about immigration enforcement, was passed by the Senate with a bipartisan vote of 71 to 29 after hours of delay. However, the House of Representatives is currently out of town and is not expected to take up the measure until Monday, as confirmed by a Republican leadership aide to Reuters. This delay means the House cannot ratify the Senate's agreement before the midnight deadline, making a weekend funding lapse unavoidable, as reported by AFP.
Senate leaders have indicated that the legislation will significantly increase the chances of a quick resolution to the shutdown, potentially within days. Despite this, the immediate impact is set to affect non-essential federal operations, forcing agencies to halt services and place workers on unpaid leave or require them to work without pay.
What's the Funding Bill About?
With a weekend shutdown looming, President Trump made a rare deal with Senate Democrats on Thursday, following the deaths of two protesters at the hands of federal agents in Minneapolis. The funding impasse has been driven by Democratic anger over aggressive immigration enforcement after the fatal shootings of protesters Alex Pretti and Renee Good, both 37, by federal agents in separate incidents this month in Minneapolis.
Under the agreement, funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will continue at current levels for two weeks. This stopgap measure is intended to give lawmakers time to consider Democratic demands, which include unmasking agents, requiring more warrants, and allowing local authorities to assist in investigating incidents. The deal, negotiated between the White House and Senate Democratic leaders, also approved five outstanding funding bills to finance most of the federal government through the end of the fiscal year in September.
President Trump publicly endorsed the deal and urged both parties to support it, signaling his desire to avoid a second shutdown of his second term. This comes after a record 43-day stoppage last summer, highlighting the ongoing political tensions.
Second Shutdown of Trump's Second Term
If the shutdown occurs, it will be the second during Trump's second term, temporarily freezing funding for non-essential federal operations. Departments ranging from defense and education to transportation and housing would be affected in a prolonged shutdown, with pressure mounting quickly to resolve disruptions that could ripple through the economy.
Ironically, Trump's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, which is at the center of the immigration crackdown controversy, would be largely unaffected. This is because it was allocated approximately $75 billion over four years in Trump's 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as reported by AFP. A weekend-long stoppage, with a quick resolution in the House on Monday, is expected to have a negligible impact on federal operations overall.
The Broader Funding Fight and Future Implications
The broader funding fight has left both parties bracing for at least a brief shutdown. Congress has already passed six of the 12 annual budget bills, but these measures cover only a minority of discretionary spending. The remaining bills fund large swaths of the government, meaning funding for roughly 78 percent of federal operations is set to lapse.
Speaker Mike Johnson has stated that the House intends to act quickly when it returns on Monday, although divisions among Republicans could complicate the process. If enacted, lawmakers would then have just two weeks to negotiate a full-year DHS funding bill. These talks are acknowledged by both parties to be politically fraught, with Democrats demanding new guardrails on immigration enforcement and conservatives pushing their own policy priorities.
The situation underscores the ongoing challenges in US governance, as political divisions continue to impact critical funding decisions and federal operations.
