Washington is staring down the barrel of another partial government shutdown this weekend, despite a high-stakes handshake between President Donald Trump and Senate Democrats. While both sides reached a tentative agreement to keep most of the federal lights on, the deal hit a wall late Thursday night, leaving the Capitol in a state of “wait and see” as a Friday midnight deadline looms.
The tension on the Senate floor was palpable as leadership sent lawmakers home around 11 p.m. without a scheduled vote. The delay isn’t just about the fine print; it’s about a specific, heated dispute involving South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.
Graham has effectively slammed the brakes on a quick vote over a provision that would scrap a law allowing senators to receive cash payouts if their phone records were seized by former special counsel Jack Smith. RELATED: Florida Sen. Rick Scott Urges AG Pam Bondi To Unseal Records In ‘Arctic Frost’ Probe
Graham, who was personally caught up in those subpoenas, insists his stance isn’t about his own wallet. He argued that nearly 200 private groups had their privacy compromised and deserve better notification. This internal GOP friction comes even after President Trump took to Truth Social to urge a “Bipartisan YES Vote,” signaling he is ready to move past the budget drama.
The stakes are lopsided but significant. If this package passes, about 95% of the government would be funded for the year. The odd man out is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Democrats successfully pushed to separate DHS funding from the main package following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minnesota. They are currently bartering for major policy reforms, such as independent investigations into federal law enforcement, in exchange for long-term DHS funding.
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However, the logistics of avoiding a shutdown are getting messy. Even if the Senate clears the hurdles on Friday, the House of Representatives is currently on recess and isn’t slated to return until Monday.
Speaker Mike Johnson suggested that next week is the earliest his chamber could vote, making a “weekend gap” in funding look almost inevitable for several agencies.
For the average American, the impact might be muted at first because many heavy hitters—like the VA, USDA, and Justice Department—are already funded. But for the remaining agencies, the next 24 hours will determine if employees show up to work on Monday or if the “closed” signs go up yet again.
Majority Leader John Thune summed up the mood of the building as he exited: “Tomorrow’s another day.” Whether it’s a productive one remains to be seen.
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