Senate strikes deal to avoid partial government shutdown

WASHINGTON - The Senate on Thursday struck a deal to avert a partial government shutdown and temporarily fund the Department of Homeland Security just one day before the shutdown deadline. 

Both parties have agreed to separate homeland security funding from a larger spending bill and fund the Homeland department for two weeks while they debate Democratic demands for curbs on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. The deal comes after Democrats voted to block legislation to fund DHS on Thursday.

Democrats have requested a short extension—two weeks or less—and say they are prepared to block the wide-ranging spending bill if their demands aren’t met, denying Republicans the votes they need to pass it and potentially triggering a shutdown.

Republicans were pushing for a longer extension of the Homeland Security funding, but the two sides were "getting closer," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.

What they're saying:

President Donald Trump said in a social media post that "Republicans and Democrats have come together to get the vast majority of the government funded until September," while extending current funding for Homeland Security. He encouraged members of both parties to cast a "much needed Bipartisan ‘YES’ vote."

The rare bipartisan talks between Trump and his frequent adversary, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, came after the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minnesota over the weekend and calls by senators in both parties for a full investigation. Schumer called it "a moment of truth."

"The American people support law enforcement. They support border security. They do not support ICE terrorizing our streets and killing American citizens," Schumer said.

The backstory:

The threat of a partial shutdown came just two months after Democrats blocked a spending bill over expiring federal health care subsidies, a dispute that closed the government for 43 days as Republicans refused to negotiate. 

Fallout from that shutdown landed on millions of Americans, including federal workers who went without paychecks and airline passengers who had their trips delayed or canceled. An interruption in nutrition assistance programs (SNAP) contributed to long lines at food banks and added emotional distress going into the holiday season. That likely wouldn't be an issue for this shutdown because the U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees SNAP benefits and has already been funded. 

The last shutdown ended when a small group of moderate Democrats broke away to strike a deal with Republicans, but Democrats are more united this time after the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal agents.