The US government is heading towards a potential partial shutdown starting this Saturday, as Congress has failed to pass a federal funding bill in time. As of January 29th, media reports indicate that a scheduled Senate vote on funding has stalled due to opposition from lawmakers, leaving the government's funding situation deadlocked. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer had previously reached a preliminary agreement on a short-term compromise to avert a shutdown, which involved separating funding for the Department of Homeland Security from a package of six spending bills and extending its funding for two weeks while allowing the other five bills to continue through the end of the fiscal year (September 30th). However, this proposal has encountered significant resistance during its advancement, particularly from Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who voiced strong opposition to the deal, labeling it a "bad deal" and obstructing the voting process. With the House of Representatives not reconvening this week, even if the Senate completes its vote, the House will be unable to review and pass the bill promptly, making at least a short-term partial government shutdown nearly unavoidable. Given the current circumstances, if Congress fails to reach an agreement before the deadline, some federal agencies will temporarily cease operations starting at 12:01 a.m. (12:01 p.m. Beijing Time on Saturday). A major flashpoint in this funding conflict revolves around budget and enforcement reform issues concerning the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency under the Department of Homeland Security. Lawmakers view recent controversies surrounding ICE enforcement actions as a key negotiation point, with efforts to include enforcement reform clauses in the budget bill. Democrats are advocating for reform measures, such as requiring law enforcement officers to wear body cameras and clarifying enforcement guidelines, while some Republican lawmakers oppose attaching such conditions to the funding bill. From the White House, US President Donald Trump has called for bipartisan support to reach a deal, aiming to ensure the operation of major federal agencies through the end of the fiscal year and avoid the social and market disruptions a shutdown would cause. Economic observers note that a partial government shutdown could affect non-essential government services and the payroll schedule for federal employees, and might also lead to increased short-term volatility in financial markets; however, since most of the government's budget has already been approved and the shutdown is expected to be short-lived, its long-term impact on the overall economy is likely to be limited.
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