Washington, D.C. — In a dramatic eleventh-hour breakthrough on Capitol Hill, Senate Democrats and the Trump administration have reached a tentative agreement to avert a partial government shutdown, just hours before the midnight deadline. The deal, announced late Thursday, secures funding for most federal agencies through September but limits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to a two-week stopgap measure. This temporary reprieve sets the stage for a high-stakes legislative showdown over DHS shutdown deal 2026 negotiations and Democratic demands for sweeping Department of Homeland Security reform.

Senate Spending Bill News: The Two-Week Cooling Off Period

The bipartisan agreement effectively splits the government funding package. While the Pentagon, Department of Education, and other non-controversial agencies are funded for the remainder of the fiscal year, DHS is kept on a short leash until February 13. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) described the move as a necessary "cooling-off period" to address what he termed "state-sanctioned thuggery" by federal agents in Minnesota.

"We cannot sign a blank check for an agency that is currently operating as a paramilitary force against American citizens," Schumer told reporters outside the Senate chamber. The Senate spending bill news comes as a relief to millions of federal workers who faced immediate furloughs, but it leaves the core conflict regarding immigration enforcement unresolved. The House is expected to vote on the measure later today, despite grumbling from hardline conservatives who view the short-term extension as a concession to the ICE Out national strike organizers.

Minneapolis Protest Shooting Sparks National Outrage

The political gridlock in Washington is inextricably linked to the volatile situation on the ground in the Twin Cities. Tensions exploded earlier this month following the launch of "Operation Metro Surge," a Trump administration initiative that surged federal agents into sanctuary jurisdictions. The operation turned deadly on January 7 with the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, followed by the January 24 killing of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, by Border Patrol agents during a chaotic arrest in Minneapolis.

Witnesses say Pretti was unarmed and attempting to assist a bystander when he was shot, a claim that contradicts initial DHS reports describing him as a "domestic terrorist." The Minneapolis protest shooting has become a rallying cry for activists, prompting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to mobilize the National Guard—not to assist ICE, but to "protect Minnesotans from federal overreach," creating an unprecedented standoff between state and federal forces.

‘ICE Out’ Strike Begins: "No Work. No School."

As lawmakers scramble to finalize the government funding deadline Jan 30 details, a massive wave of civil disobedience is sweeping the country. Organized by the grassroots group "50501," the ICE Out national strike officially began this morning. From New York to Los Angeles, organizers are urging supporters to halt all economic activity under the slogan: "No work. No school. No shopping. Stop funding ICE."

Early reports indicate significant disruptions in major urban centers. In Minneapolis, the epicenter of the movement, local businesses have shuttered in solidarity, and transit lines are blocked by thousands of protesters braving sub-zero temperatures. "This isn't just about a budget line item anymore," said Gloriann Sahay, a national coordinator for the strike. "We are shutting down the economy until the federal agents withdraw from our neighborhoods."

Trump Insurrection Act Threat Raises Stakes

President Trump has responded to the unrest with characteristic aggression. Taking to Truth Social, the President blasted the DHS shutdown deal 2026 compromise as "weak" but necessary to "keep the military funded." However, his rhetoric toward the protesters has darkened. Citing the demonstrations in Minneapolis, the President recently issued a Trump Insurrection Act threat, warning that he is prepared to deploy active-duty troops to "crush the insurrectionists" if local leaders fail to restore order.

"If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don't obey the law... I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT," Trump wrote, a move that legal scholars warn would trigger an immediate constitutional crisis. The Pentagon has reportedly placed units at Fort Bragg and Fort Bliss on standby, further fueling anxiety that the two-week DHS funding extension may just be the calm before a much larger storm.