Senate Democrats reach deal with White House on spending bills one day before partial shutdown

WASHINGTON -- US Senate Democrats have reached a deal with Republicans and the White House to pass five spending bills to fund part of the government for the remainder of the fiscal year, as well as a stopgap measure to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), multiple US media outlets reported on Thursday.

The New York Times, CBS News, Fox News and CNN are among the news outlets that reported the development, which came just one day before a partial shutdown is set to begin.

GOP Senate leaders are now working to schedule a vote on Thursday night, CNN reported.

Earlier in the day, the Senate failed to advance a six-bill funding package amid disputes over immigration policy. The chamber voted 45-55 on a procedural motion, falling short of the 60 votes needed to advance the House-approved funding package.

Recent two fatal shootings by federal enforcement in Minneapolis have prompted Democrats to seek changes to how immigration agencies operate. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday that until Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is properly reined in and overhauled legislatively, the DHS funding bill does not have the votes to pass the Senate.

DHS and its agency ICE will be able to largely operate without interruption even if their funding is stripped out of the annual funding package, because the One Big Beautiful Bill -- a massive tax and spending bill approved in July 2025 -- provided DHS with roughly 178 billion US dollars.

Schumer outlined Democrats' demands on Wednesday, including ending roving patrols, tightening warrant rules, imposing an enforceable code of conduct that holds federal agents to the same use-of-force standards as local law enforcement, and implementing a "masks off, body cameras on" policy for federal agents.

The newly reached deal -- which includes five annual spending bills and a two-week funding measure to fund the DHS -- would have to be approved by both the Senate and the House, which is on recess this week and hasn't announced plans for lawmakers to return to Washington.

Funding for multiple US federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is expected to expire Saturday.