WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and Senate Democrats have reached an agreement to fund the federal government ahead of Friday’s midnight deadline to avert a partial shutdown, but the Senate’s effort to quickly advance the deal stalled late Thursday, POLITICO reported.
Leadership sent senators home around 11 p.m., and while lawmakers hope to vote Friday, no formal schedule has been set.
Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said unresolved issues remain on both sides.
“Hopefully by sometime tomorrow we’ll be in a better spot,” Thune told reporters as he left the Capitol. “Tomorrow’s another day, and hopefully people will be in a spirit to try and get this done tomorrow.”
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was more pointed, saying, “Republicans need to get their act together,” POLITICO said.
The primary obstacle appears to be Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) decision to block expedited consideration of the agreement because it includes a House-passed provision undoing a law that allows senators to receive cash compensation if their phone records were seized by former special counsel Jack Smith. The provision’s inclusion in the Senate funding package was first reported by POLITICO.
Graham, whose records were among those subpoenaed, said his opposition is not personal.
“It’s not about me — 190 private groups had their phone records messed with. I want notification,” he said, POLITICO reported.
His stance comes despite Trump publicly urging swift bipartisan support for the agreement on Truth Social.
Even if the Senate approves the measure Friday, a brief partial shutdown could still begin early Saturday because the House is in recess and not scheduled to return until Monday. Speaker Mike Johnson said Thursday night that Monday is the earliest the House could vote, though GOP leaders plan a Friday conference call that could reshape the timeline. Leadership aides told POLITICO they expect votes to slip into next week, making a short shutdown increasingly likely.