The Senate reached a bipartisan agreement Thursday evening to fund a large portion of the federal government, just one day before a looming shutdown deadline. The deal restructures a previously negotiated funding package and sets up a short-term solution for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) while allowing most other agencies to be funded through the end of the fiscal year.
Under the agreement, lawmakers will split DHS funding out of a broader six-bill “minibus” package. Instead of approving full-year funding for DHS immediately, the Senate will move forward with a short-term continuing resolution (CR) that keeps the department funded at current levels through Feb. 13.
The remaining five appropriations bills — covering the departments of Defense, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Labor, and Education — would receive full-year funding. Together, those measures account for roughly 96 percent of federal discretionary spending for fiscal year 2026.
Negotiations over the length of the DHS stopgap had been a central sticking point. Democrats pushed for a shorter, two-week extension, while Republicans sought a six-week CR. The final agreement adopted the two-week timeframe favored by Democrats.
Two sources familiar with the negotiations confirmed the deal, though top Republican leaders were still reviewing the agreement with rank-and-file members Thursday evening to determine whether any amendments might be needed. Senate leadership is expected to move quickly, with a vote anticipated Thursday night.
President Trump signaled his support for the agreement in a post on Truth Social, emphasizing the importance of avoiding a shutdown and highlighting the scope of the funding package.
“I am working hard with Congress to ensure that we are able to fully fund the Government, without delay,” Trump wrote. “Republicans and Democrats in Congress have come together to get the vast majority of the Government funded until September, while at the same time providing an extension to the Department of Homeland Security (including the very important Coast Guard, which we are expanding and rebuilding like never before).”
“Hopefully, both Republicans and Democrats will give a very much needed Bipartisan ‘YES’ Vote,” he added.
If the Senate passes the bills, attention will shift to the House of Representatives. The House is not expected to return to Washington until Monday, raising the likelihood of a brief funding lapse even if Senate action proceeds smoothly. Questions also remain about whether the House will approve the remaining funding bills without changes, as some Republicans have already called for revisions.
The restructuring of the funding package follows heightened tensions surrounding DHS. Democrats had threatened to block the entire six-bill minibus unless the DHS measure was removed, citing concerns after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis over the weekend. The backlash placed Republicans on the defensive and prompted efforts by the administration to de-escalate the situation.
Discussions between Democratic leaders and the White House intensified Wednesday night, paving the way for Thursday’s breakthrough.
Earlier in the day, President Trump expressed cautious optimism about avoiding a shutdown during a Cabinet meeting. “Hopefully, we won’t have a shutdown. We’re working on that right now. I think we’re getting close. The Democrats, I don’t believe want to see it either,” he said. “So we’ll work in a very bipartisan way, I believe, not to have a shutdown.”
While the agreement averts an immediate funding crisis for most agencies, it leaves lawmakers with a narrow window to negotiate a longer-term DHS funding deal. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday that Democrats would seek significant policy changes as part of any renegotiation of the DHS package.
Those demands include ending roving patrols by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, tightening warrant rules, establishing a universal code of conduct for agents, and requiring the use of body cameras while prohibiting officers from wearing masks.
“Under President Trump, Secretary Noem and Stephen Miller, ICE has been unleashed without guardrails,” Schumer said. “They violate constitutional rights all the time and deliberately refuse to coordinate with state and local law enforcement.”
