WASHINGTON — Federal lawmakers are negotiating to prevent a partial government shutdown before this Friday’s Jan. 30 deadline. A shutdown would temporarily close some federal offices and stop pay for many workers.

The funding fight began after U.S. Border Patrol agents fatally shot a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident in January 2026. The incident has since stalled spending bills in the Senate.

Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, plan to stop the broad funding package by preventing a final vote. They are protesting the inclusion of money for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the agency that oversees the Border Patrol.

Efforts to Prevent a Shutdown

To keep other parts of the government from closing, Senators Angus King and Chuck Schumer are calling for a plan to vote on the DHS budget by itself. This would separate it from five other agency budgets currently being discussed.

This plan would undo a decision by House leaders. They had originally passed the DHS budget as its own bill, but later combined it with funding for five other agencies into one large bill for the Senate to consider.

A winter storm in Washington, D.C., delayed the Senate’s return until Tuesday afternoon. This delay gives lawmakers even less time to reach an agreement before the Friday deadline.

Impact on Federal Operations

Even if a new deal is not reached by Friday, several federal departments will stay open. The president has already signed six of the 12 annual spending bills into law.

The departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Justice will continue normal operations because their funding was approved in bills signed late last year and earlier this month.

Calls for Investigation

The Minneapolis shooting has led to calls for more supervision of federal agents and more openness about how agencies operate. Several Republican senators have joined calls for a thorough and independent investigation into the incident.

Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said a full investigation is needed to rebuild trust and make sure those involved are held responsible. Senators Bill Cassidy, Thom Tillis, Pete Ricketts, Dave McCormick, and Jon Husted also joined the calls for an inquiry.

Meanwhile, Senate leaders continue to work toward a funding agreement before the weekend.