US government shutdown looms

SENATE EYES FUNDING DEAL VOTE

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U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. Graham announced the Senate had failed to reach an agreement on government funding as lawmakers continue to work to prevent a partial shutdown at midnight on Friday.

(AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE)

The US Senate edged closer to a vote Friday on a funding deal to avert a government shutdown following a bitter standoff over President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown.

A partial government shutdown -- affecting roughly three-quarters of the federal government -- would be the second since Trump returned to office, threatening to furlough hundreds of thousands of public employees, interrupting government services and injecting fresh economic uncertainty just months ahead of the midterm elections.

Current government funding lapses at midnight Friday.

Democrats have said they are prepared to pass five of the six spending bills immediately, but have drawn a red line around funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), demanding it be stripped out and renegotiated to impose new constraints on immigration enforcement agencies.