Democrats push to avert shutdown as DHS funding stalls in Senate
Democrats push to avert shutdown as DHS funding stalls in Senate
Senators debate a short-term funding patch and new limits on immigration enforcement to avoid a looming government shutdown.
Democrats voted to block legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security and several other agencies on Thursday as they negotiated with Republicans and the White House over new restrictions on immigration enforcement. The 45-55 test vote came as lawmakers warned of a partial government shutdown when money runs out on Friday. President Trump said he didn’t want a shutdown, and the sides floated a plan to separate Homeland Security funding from the rest of the package and fund it for a short period while talks continue.
Democrats, led by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, demanded major changes to ICE, including officers identifying themselves and obtaining warrants for arrests. Schumer said Democrats won’t provide needed votes unless ICE is “reined in and overhauled” and that this is a “moment of truth” for the White House and Republicans.
The standoff also unfolds against the backdrop of violence in Minneapolis, where the deaths of two protesters at the hands of federal agents have intensified scrutiny of federal policing. Democrats laid out conditions tied to those concerns as part of their leverage in the negotiations.
Under the proposed deal on the table, Homeland Security would be funded for a short time while other agencies—such as the Defense Department—would be funded through the end of September. The idea is to give negotiators space to resolve the Democrats’ immigration and border-security demands without forcing a full government shutdown.
With the Friday deadline looming, lawmakers are weighing a narrow, temporary funding patch that would keep the government running while talks continue. The next 24 to 48 hours are set to determine whether politics or policy will drive the final outcome.
