Where government funding talks stand as Congress careens toward partial shutdown

Published January 29, 2026 12:38pm ET



The federal government is expected to enter a partial shutdown starting Saturday, but it could be short-lived as Senate Democrats and the White House negotiate new restrictions for President Donald Trump’s sweeping deportation agenda.

A procedural vote to advance a funding package and avert a shutdown failed to clear a 60-vote filibuster in the Senate on Thursday, with opposition from a handful of GOP defectors and all Democrats. Meanwhile, talks continued on a spending deal in exchange for Democratic demands to limit the tactics of federal immigration officials after recent deadly shootings.

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