Trump, Democrats near deal to avert US government shutdown

WASHINGTON: Talks between top Senate Democrats and the Trump administration aimed at averting a government shutdown have shifted closer to Democrats' demands, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

No agreement has been reached, the person said late Wednesday. Without a deal, funding for much of the federal government - including the Departments of Defense and Health and Human Services - will lapse on Saturday.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has insisted Republicans remove long-term Homeland Security funding from a broader spending package needed to keep the government open past Friday.


Some senators in both parties have signalled support for a short-term stopgap for Homeland Security funding to allow more time to negotiate possible limits on immigration enforcement operations, after two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis were killed this month by federal agents.

Schumer and other Democrats have proposed changes including banning masks for officers, requiring body cameras and warrants before entering homes, and ending immigration sweeps.

The Senate is scheduled to hold its first procedural vote on the spending package at 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Any single senator could trigger a brief shutdown through procedural action.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Wednesday he didn't rule out splitting the package to avert a shutdown, though he prefers keeping it intact. Any change would need House approval, where passage remains uncertain and the chamber is in recess this week.