Trump and Democrats Seek Common Ground to Prevent Shutdown
Washington is once again in tense mode, but the chances of preventing a government shutdown appear to be growing. President Donald Trump and Senate Democrats are reportedly getting closer to a compromise, after the White House opened negotiations on new restrictions on immigration raids—an issue that has sparked nationwide protests.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said talks are ongoing, but his tone was optimistic. He signaled that a deal is possible, and the White House also confirmed that Trump is working across party lines to avoid another shutdown. However, there is no final agreement yet, and any steps could change quickly at the last minute.
The broad outline of the proposed plan: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would likely receive only temporary funding, while other federal agencies would be funded through September 30th. The deadline is tight—without a deal, funding for much of the federal government would expire Saturday, including major departments like Defense and Health Care.
On the Democratic side, Chuck Schumer is pressing Republicans not to lock in long-term DHS funding in a major spending package. Democrats are also pushing for legislation they believe could curb immigration enforcement tactics, such as mandatory body cameras, mask restrictions, and warrants before entering homes. There's even a push to halt certain raids. This issue has become increasingly sensitive following the shooting of two Americans in Minneapolis, which was linked to federal agents.
The Senate is scheduled to begin procedural votes, and at this stage, even a single move could trigger a brief shutdown. The situation is further complicated by the House passing a spending bill last week and leaving Washington early. Any changes would require the bill to return to the House for another vote—and House leadership has yet to confirm whether it will recall members early. At the same time, conservative Republicans have also hinted they could file additional demands if Democrats secure too many concessions. (alg)
Source: Newsmaker: id
