The specter of a budget impasse is once again looming over Washington. With federal funding expiring on January 31 , several Democratic senators announced Saturday their intention to block the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget. This reversal follows another deadly operation by federal agents in Minneapolis.

A climate of violence that is engulfing the Senate

The death of a 37-year-old man on Saturday, shot by federal agents, has sparked outrage. This tragedy comes less than three weeks after the death of Renee Good in similar circumstances, in a city already tense over the methods of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

This situation has led to a breakdown in dialogue within Congress:

1. Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada): The congresswoman, known for her moderation, criticized the Trump administration and Secretary Kristi Noem, accusing them of deploying "under-trained and belligerent" agents.
2. Mark Warner (Virginia): The senator denounced a "brutal crackdown" and now refuses to fund the DHS as long as these "violent takeovers" continue in American cities.

The blocking mechanism

To avoid a shutdown , the budget bill must pass 60 out of 100 votes in the Senate. The united front of Democrats makes this goal virtually impossible to achieve by the deadline.

What is a shutdown? In the absence of a passed budget, the federal government partially ceases to function:

1. Temporary layoffs: Hundreds of thousands of civil servants are suspended.
2. Essential services: Military personnel and air traffic controllers are working without immediate pay.
3. Catch-up: Salaries are only paid once the crisis is resolved.

A weighty historical context

The United States is barely emerging from a record-breaking crisis. Last November, a dispute over healthcare caused a 43-day shutdown, the longest in the country's history. If no compromise is reached on the management of federal forces, the country is poised to relive a similar scenario as early as the beginning of February.