The U.S. government is on the brink of a partial shutdown, set to begin early Saturday morning, as a funding deal to keep federal agencies open has hit a roadblock in the Senate. This potential shutdown, which could last for a brief period, is a result of a planned Senate vote that failed to materialize.
The situation has escalated due to a hold placed on the funding package by Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina. Graham's decision to hold up the deal has effectively blocked its quick consideration in the Senate. This move comes as a response to a provision passed by the House that removed language allowing senators to sue for up to $500,000 if their phone records were obtained during the Arctic Frost investigation.
Even if the Senate were to vote on the deal on Friday, a shutdown is inevitable. This is because the House of Representatives is not scheduled to return to Washington until Monday, and both chambers must approve the spending bills before the package can be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature. Without a funding deal, federal operations will partially shut down at 12:01 a.m. ET on Saturday.
President Trump, in a Truth Social post, urged lawmakers to support the deal that would fund most of the federal government through September 30. However, the Senate leaders' planned vote on Thursday night was canceled, further complicating matters. The agreement, if passed, would remove funding for the Department of Homeland Security and allocate funds for five other government agencies.
The Department of Homeland Security, which has faced criticism for its immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota, would be temporarily funded under the agreement, with long-term funding to be addressed later. This partial shutdown highlights the ongoing political tensions and the challenges in reaching consensus on government funding.
