The likelihood of a US government shutdown increases after the funding deal stalls in the Senate

The likelihood of a partial US government shutdown increased on Friday after new barriers emerged in the Senate against an agreement that would ensure funding for agencies’ operations would not be interrupted.The deal, announced by Senate Democrats and President Donald Trump, would allow Congress to pass a spending bill covering a wide range of government operations, from the military to health programs, as new limits on Trump’s immigration crackdown are negotiated.

But action in the Senate stalled Thursday night when some lawmakers objected to the deal.

The Senate was scheduled to return at 11 a.m. Eastern Time (4 p.m. GMT), with funding expiring at midnight.

Even if the Senate approves the deal, it would also have to win approval from the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, which is not in session this week. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Thursday that it would be difficult to get lawmakers back to Washington to vote before the midnight deadline.

The deal would separate funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from the broader funding package, ensuring that the debate over immigration enforcement would not impact agencies like the Pentagon and the Department of Labor.

Senate Democrats, angry over the shooting of a second U.S. 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 the DHS, which oversees federal immigration enforcement. Democrats are demanding new restrictions on federal immigration agents, including an end to roving patrols, a ban on face masks and a requirement to wear body cameras.

DHS funding would be extended by two weeks, giving negotiators time to reach an agreement on immigration tactics. The shooting of nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents on Saturday sparked widespread public outrage, prompting the Trump administration to de-escalate operations in the region. Pretti’s death was the second this month of a U.S. citizen with no criminal record involving immigration law enforcement.