Lindsey Graham Lifts Hold on Spending Package, Averting Shutdown After Deal

Government Funding Deal and Shutdown Aversion

• 🏛️ A deal has been reached in the Senate to advance a government funding package, aiming to avert a partial government shutdown.
• 🗓️ Despite the deal, dozens of federal agencies faced funding lapses at midnight due to the slow legislative process, with the House not returning until Monday.
• 🤝 Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, secured an agreement with the White House to split funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

DHS Funding and Negotiation Strategy

• 📑 Lawmakers are voting on five appropriations bills for agencies like the Defense Department, Labor, HHS, State, and Treasury.
• ⏳ DHS funding will be separated and funded through a continuing resolution for two weeks, allowing time to negotiate potential reforms related to ICE.
• ⚠️ It remains possible for a brief funding lapse over the weekend until the House can approve these changes.

Senator Graham's Hold and Demands

• ✋ Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina placed a hold on the legislation, expressing concerns about the deal.
• 🏙️ Graham is advocating for a vote on his bill to end sanctuary city policies, which he believes are at the root of immigration enforcement issues.
• 🕵️ He also had concerns over a provision stripped from the House's DHS funding bill that would have allowed senators to sue the government for seized phone records.

Resolution and Path Forward

• ✅ Following guarantees from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, including a potential amendment vote on his proposed language and a vote on his sanctuary city bill, Senator Graham has agreed to lift his hold.
• 🚀 This agreement allows the government funding package to move forward, albeit slowly.