Trump pushes Congress for deal to avert government shutdown

2026-01-30 - 00:15

President Donald Trump has issued a direct appeal to the United States Congress, calling for a bipartisan agreement to fund the federal government and avoid a disruptive shutdown this weekend. In a statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump emphasized his active engagement with lawmakers and warned that a funding lapse would threaten the nation's robust economic growth. His push for cooperation comes as the US Senate reached a tentative deal to separate funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from other appropriations bills, potentially breaking a legislative logjam just hours before a critical deadline. A plea for bipartisan consensus on funding President Trump framed the need for a funding agreement as essential for maintaining the country's economic health. "I am working hard with Congress to ensure that we are able to fully fund the Government, without delay," he wrote. He highlighted that legislators from both parties had already collaborated to fund most government agencies through September. Expressing hope for a unified vote, he added, "Hopefully, both Republicans and Democrats will give a very much needed Bipartisan 'YES' Vote." He cautioned that the only factor that could derail what he termed exceptional economic numbers would be "another long and damaging government shutdown." Senate negotiates a last-minute path forward The president's remarks followed a day of tense negotiations in the US Senate. After Democrats and a small group of Republicans blocked a procedural vote on a larger funding package, key senators brokered a tentative deal. The agreement centers on decoupling the funding for the Department of Homeland Security from a combined "minibus" bill that covered five other major areas of government spending. This separation addresses a core point of political contention and creates a viable path for both chambers to vote on the measures before funding expires. The race against a weekend deadline With the current funding for several key federal agencies set to lapse at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, the legislative process is now in a high-speed phase. The Senate aimed to hold a vote on the new deal as early as Thursday night. The US House of Representatives, which is scheduled to return from recess on Monday, would then need to rapidly convene, approve the Senate-passed measure, and send it to the President's desk for his signature to prevent any lapse in government operations and services.