DHS shutdown stretches to 35 days as Democrats block funding bill |
DHS shutdown stretches to 35 days as Democrats block funding bill
The shutdown of the Department of the Homeland Security (DHS) stretched to 35 days on Friday as Senate Democrats voted to block a House-passed bill to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and other critical federal agencies.
A motion to advance the bill failed 47-37, falling short of the 60 votes it needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster. Centrist Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.) was the only Democrat to vote “yes.” Sixteen senators from both parties missed the Friday vote.
It marked the fifth time that Democrats voted to block the Homeland Security Appropriations bill since funding for the department expired on Feb. 14.
Democrats have dug in their heels against any bill that would fund ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) without implementing reforms to immigration enforcement operations, such as requiring federal officers to obtain judicial warrants before entering homes and banning them from wearing masks.
Democrats have instead offered proposals to split off funding for TSA, the Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other agencies from the parts of the Homeland Security Department responsible for immigration enforcement. Democrats have attempted several times to pass this funding via unanimous consent but Republicans have objected each time.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Democrats will force a vote on Saturday on a proposal to fund TSA and alleviate long waits at security lines around the country, which have grown to several hours at some airports.
“The chaos at TSA is reaching a boiling point. We need to reopen it as quickly as possible. That is what Senate Democrats are intent on doing,” he said.
Schumer offered a motion Thursday to invoke cloture on Senate Rule XXV to set up Saturday’s vote on funding TSA but not ICE or CBP.
“If you want to open up TSA, vote yes tomorrow. Every previous vote offered by the Republicans has tied TSA funding to also continue funding for ICE without any reform of ICE,” he said.
The Democratic leader said negotiators are unlikely to reach a deal to fund the entire Department of Homeland Security anytime soon.
“Reining in ICE has a way to go. There are deep disagreements. The Republicans have not accepted that the people want real legislation to ensure the kind of brutality we saw in Minneapolis can’t happen again,” he said, referring to the fatal shootings of two protesters, Renée Good and Alex Pretti, by federal officers.
A group of Democratic appropriators met with White House border czar Tom Homan Thursday afternoon for the first time during the Homeland Security funding standoff in hopes of making progress on a potential deal.
But Republicans emerged from the meeting expressing disappointment that their Democratic colleagues appear dead set on demanding that the White House adopt their list of ICE and CBP reforms.
“I want to get an agreement but it was certainly a disappointing meeting. The White House has moved a long ways toward the Democrats’ position. There are some issues that enjoy bipartisan support such as more training [for federal immigration officers] and body-worn cameras,” said Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine), who attended Thursday’s meeting with Homan and Democrats.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the vice chair of the Senate Appropriations panel, who also attended the meeting with Homan, said the two sides aren’t close to a deal.
“We are negotiating right now over much-needed reforms for ICE and Border Patrol. The reality, which I think we do all understand, is that we are still very apart,” she said.
“But as negotiations continue, Democrats have tried again and again to give paychecks to TSA,” she said.
Homan will meet with Democrats again later in the day Friday to continue the negotiations.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said the meeting would show how serious Democrats are about reopening DHS.
“There’s going to be another meeting today and hopefully we’ll find out. We’re going to find out if Dems are serious. There were a couple of areas yesterday that they had identified in addition to some of the reforms the administration has recommended that, to me, could find a path forward,” Thune said. “I see deal space there. The question is are the Dems serious or do they see this as a political issue?”
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Senate passes measure prohibiting preferential airport screening for lawmakers
US speeds up deployment of thousands more Marines, sailors to Middle East
Senate GOP plows forward on SAVE America Act amid pressure from right
The Memo: Frustrated Trump struggles against perception that he’s losing ...
GOP Senate candidate on rising gas prices: ‘Maybe you take one less trip to ...
Obama’s former DHS secretary calls to end shutdown, pointing to Iran threat
Supreme Court revives Mississippi evangelist’s challenge to protest ...
White House seeks to circumvent Schumer on potential DHS funding deal
Live updates: Senate fails to advance DHS funding; 232 troops wounded to date ...
Jeffries says Democrats will oppose rule governing spy powers bill
Huckabee Sanders says she was asked to leave restaurant because employees felt ...
Boebert on $200B Iran war funding request: ‘I’m not doing that’
TSA official: Airport security problem ‘going to get worse before it gets ...
DHS shutdown stretches to 35 days as Democrats block funding bill
Investigators taking closer look at Nancy Guthrie’s security gate
Iran threatens world tourism sites
Kent says FBI probe meant to ‘steal a narrative’ from true intentions of ...
Trump’s push to abolish the Education Department reaches student loan ...