News Government shutdown: Lawmakers reach agreement ‘in principle’ to avoid shutdown as Friday deadline looms February 11, 2019Eliza Collins and John Fritze and Michael Collins, USA TODAYComments Off on Government shutdown: Lawmakers reach agreement ‘in principle’ to avoid shutdown as Friday deadline looms The emerging agreement was announced by a group of lawmakers, including Republican Sen. Richard Shelby and Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey.