Talks to avert a US government shutdown have intensified in Washington DC, with a deal reportedly edging closer amind a political drama following the fatal shooting of a nurse by federal immigration agents.

Prompted by the death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Democrats are pushing to remove funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from a $1.2tn (£870bn) spending bill unless additional oversight is added.

US media report that the White House and Senate Democratic leadership are nearing an agreement which would meet Democratic demands to introduce new restrictions on federal immigration agents.

As a result, five of the six spending bills could be passed before the Friday deadline, while the DHS bill would receive a short-term extension for further discussions on proposed new restrictions.

If no deal is struck, a government shutdown will begin at one minute after midnight on Friday, January 30.

How likely is a government shutdown?

The spending bill has already passed in the House of Representatives, but needs 60 Senate votes to advance.

Among the changes Democrats are seeking are requirements that federal agents obtain warrants before making arrests, and clearer rules governing how they identify themselves.

There are only 53 Republican senators in the 100-member body, meaning that passing the bill will require some support from Democrats.

Earlier this week, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said: I will vote no on any legislation that funds ICE until it is reined in and overhauled, and Senate Democrats are overwhelmingly united on this issue.

Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune has indicated that productive negotiations are ongoing.

If changes are made, the bill will need to be re-approved by the House, which is currently on recess.

On Wednesday, some Senate Democrats escalated their demands, calling for the removal of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and structural changes to both Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and US Border Patrol.

This madness must stop, Schumer stated.

Some Republicans, including Texas's John Cornyn, expressed concern that any changes must not come at the expense of a government shutdown.

What is a 'partial shutdown' and who could be impacted?

The entirety of the US federal government will not be impacted if a shutdown occurs this weekend. Legislation has been passed to fund numerous agencies through the end of the 2026 fiscal year.

Agencies like the Justice Department, FBI, and Department of Veterans Affairs will not face disruptions from the shutdown.

However, the DHS, alongside other departments such as defense, health, and treasury, could face interruptions. This might affect court operations, tax processing, and other essential services.

How long was the last shutdown?

The most recent shutdown in the latter half of 2025 lasted 43 days, marking the longest in US history. It left around 1.4 million federal employees on unpaid leave and severely disrupted air travel.