White House Seeks DHS Funding Deal as Shutdown Countdown Nears
White House Seeks DHS Funding Deal as Shutdown Countdown Nears
As a Senate vote nears, Democrats press for changes to ICE operations in exchange for funding to avert a partial government shutdown.
WASHINGTON — The White House is pressing for a compromise on funding for the Department of Homeland Security as a crucial Senate vote approaches, aiming to avert a partial government shutdown.
Democrats are tying their votes to changes in how immigration enforcement is carried out, including calls for ICE agents to remove masks and end roving patrols.
The funding package would finance most of the government through the remainder of the fiscal year, covering DHS and a slate of other agencies such as Defense, Treasury, State, Health and Human Services, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Education.
Senators have been preparing to advance the measure, but a procedural vote fell short, and a shutdown would begin Saturday at 12:01 a.m. ET if no agreement materializes.
White House aides argue a resolution is possible, while Democrats say any deal must address enforcement practices and transparency before they cast their votes.
The looming disruption would ripple through thousands of federal workers and programs that rely on DHS funding, with agencies drawing up contingency plans.
As lawmakers trade concessions, the political undercurrent remains sharp, reflecting broader debates over border policy, immigration enforcement, and the functioning of the federal government.
