Washington, Jan 29 - The United States government is facing an imminent new partial shutdown today, following the decision by Democratic senators to oppose the budget package that would include funds for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
This decision adds pressure on President Donald Trump, who is already facing opposition to his immigration tactics even within his own party, and another government shutdown could further complicate the scenario of economic instability.
The last straw was the controversy sparked by the murder last Saturday of 37-year-old American citizen Alex Pretti, fatally shot by federal immigration agents in the city of Minneapolis, the epicenter of the great controversy surrounding the Trump administration’s harsh immigration policies.
Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader in the Senate (which, like the House of Representatives, is controlled by the Republicans), confirmed that his bloc will not give the 60 votes needed to approve the set of six appropriations bills if the chapter regarding the DHS is not removed.
“This is not a law and order situation. This is chaos,” warned Schumer, who presented a list of demands to change the detention tactics and use of force by federal agents.
The Democrats seek to create a mandatory code of conduct for immigration agents and the compulsory use of body cameras, among other demands.
If no agreement is reached before midnight on January 30, the partial government shutdown would halt the operation of departments such as Defense, Health, Education, Transportation, Treasury, and State, as well as other federal agencies.
The United States experienced from October 1, 2025, for 43 days, the longest government shutdown in national history. Federal employees did not receive their salaries, many public services stopped, and voters received yet another reminder of Washington’s dysfunction, as highlighted by local media.
