Trump, Schumer move towards deal to avert US government shutdown

U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer moved on Wednesday night to reach an agreement to negotiate new restrictions on federal immigration agents, potentially averting a government shutdown, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing officials familiar with the matter.

Under the plan, the Senate would carve out legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security from a six-bill package of spending measures required to fund the military, health programs and other federal agencies through the rest of the fiscal year, the Times said.



The Senate would pass the bills before a Friday midnight deadline, and Congress would also consider a short-term extension of homeland security operations to avoid service gaps at the Transportation Security Agency, Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, NYT added.



The report comes after the Senate Democrats called for new restrictions on immigration agents earlier in the day, paving the way for a partial U.S. government shutdown this weekend.



Democrats have said that they will not agree to extend DHS funding through September without new limits on Trump's immigration crackdown.