In a pivotal move just before the stroke of midnight on Friday, President Donald Trump, alongside Senate Democrats, confirmed an agreement designed to keep the federal government operational, staving off a potential partial shutdown. The consensus arrived at a critical juncture, as the deadline loomed large.

The arrangement guarantees funding until September 30 for most government departments and agencies. However, it earmarks a short-term stopgap specifically for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has been at the center of heated debates over immigration enforcement policies.

"I am working hard with Congress to ensure that we are able to fully fund the Government, without delay," Trump articulated in a post on Truth Social, expressing hope for a bipartisan approval of the deal.

A spokesperson for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer elaborated that the agreement includes a two-week extension at current funding levels for DHS. This period aims to provide lawmakers additional time to hash out new restrictions concerning the department's immigration enforcement tactics.

In an effort to expedite the process and avoid delays, the deal has not yet been publicly announced on the Senate floor. Senate GOP leadership aides are currently evaluating the caucus to resolve any potential concerns or requests for amendments that might impede the agreement’s progression.

Despite the Senate's anticipated swift approval, hurdles remain. With the House in recess and not due back until Monday, a partial government shutdown remains a possibility early Saturday. House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated that reconvening members could take days, though Trump's endorsement might accelerate this process.

Senate Democrats have managed to separate the full-year DHS funding from the broader package, a strategic move following a controversial incident where federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti in Minnesota. This incident has intensified calls for policy reform within the DHS.

However, negotiations with the White House continue as Democrats pinpoint the specific policy amendments they desire. While some Republicans show openness to reform, such as mandated independent investigations, others like Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) have expressed reservations, particularly concerning sanctuary-city policies.

Graham, stressing his conditional openness to reforms, also highlighted the ongoing challenges with sanctuary-city policies, which he described as a "cancer" needing stringent measures.

Looking ahead, if no long-term deal is reached by mid-February for DHS, Republicans anticipate another prolonged stopgap, with Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) suggesting that parts of the government might remain indefinitely shut down.

If the current deal is enacted promptly, it will secure full-year funding for over 95% of the agencies typically funded annually, leaving only DHS's budget unresolved.

Should the agreement fail to pass before the imminent Friday deadline, a shutdown will impact all federal agencies not included in the six funding bills already sanctioned for this fiscal year, which covers a wide range of governmental functions from agriculture to energy.

*Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.*