Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 28, 2026. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate was unable to advance a funding package on Thursday, bringing the federal government closer to a partial shutdown as Democrats push for restrictions on immigration enforcement.
45-55 votes needed at least 60 senators to agree to continue debate on six appropriations bills before the Friday midnight deadline.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-D., said shortly before the vote that he was bullish that Democrats and President Donald Trump could negotiate some sort of deal to avoid a shutdown. The progress of the package was as follows thrown into doubt following the fatal shooting of a second U.S. citizen by immigration agents in Minneapolis on Saturday.
“I’ll let the White House speak for itself. But I’ve had some very constructive discussions and conversations that I’ve been a part of, so let’s just say I’m hopeful,” Thune said. “But I don’t want to put the cart before the horse.”
The agreement would likely replace the year-long Department of Homeland Security funding bill with a tiny stopgap spending measure, giving lawmakers and the administration more time to negotiate a bipartisan agreement.
The House would have to approve any changes to the package before going to Trump for his signature, which could lead to a loss of funding over the weekend and on Monday, when the chamber is scheduled to return from recess.
Senate Democrats’ immigration reforms can wait
Thune said the changes to immigration enforcement, which Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., detailed earlier this week, would not be included in the government funding package but could be included in legislation later this year.
“Something like this won’t happen under this bill,” Thune said. “But there is an opportunity to consider some of these issues and negotiate them between Republicans, Democrats, the House, the Senate and the White House.”
Thune said negotiators had not yet determined how long the momentary spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security would last, but he expressed hope that the House – closely controlled by Republicans – would be able to quickly approve the revised package once the changes were finalized in the Senate.
Congress has approved half of the dozen annual government funding bills, but must approve the remaining measures before the momentary spending law keeping these departments operating expires at midnight Friday.
A partial government shutdown would impact the Departments of Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, State, Transportation and Treasury. The Executive Office of the President, the Supreme Court and the judiciary would also be left without funds.
“Enough”
Schumer said in a floor speech that the Trump administration’s handling of immigration enforcement is a “moral abomination.”
“Enough is enough. What (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is doing outside the law is state-sanctioned thuggery and it needs to stop,” Schumer said. “Congress has the authority and moral obligation to act.”
Schumer reiterated that Democrats support the five funding bills in the package and will facilitate implement them, but said the homeland security bill “still needs a lot of work.”
During a cabinet meeting Thursday morning, Trump said he did not want a partial government shutdown and was cooperating with Senate Democrats.
“I hope we won’t have a shutdown, we’re working on it now,” Trump said. “I think we’re close, Democrats. I don’t want to see that either, so we’re going to work bipartisanly.”
A White House official wrote in a statement that “President Trump has been consistent — he wants to keep the government open and the administration is working with both sides to ensure the American people do not have to endure another shutdown.”
“Interrupting operations would risk disaster funding and more resources for the American people,” the official added. Funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is helping states after last weekend’s severe winter storm, is included in the DHS bill.
Some consensus
Democrats and Republicans reached consensus on some changes to the Homeland Security Appropriations Act after January 7 shooting of 37-year-old Renee Goodincluding funding for body cameras and additional oversight of detention centers.
House approved this bill last week and sent it to the Senate as part of a larger package.
But border guard agents the shooting of Alex Pretti On Saturday, Democrats called for withdrawing the DHS spending bill to give lawmakers time to negotiate additional protective barriers to federal immigration actions.
Schumer scratched Tuesday’s list of proposed changes included:
- No more roving patrols;
- Tightening the rules for the utilize of warrants;
- Requiring Immigration and Customs Enforcement to cooperate with state and local law enforcement;
- Implementing a Uniform Code of Conduct that holds federal law enforcement agencies to the same set of standards that apply to state and local agencies;
- Ban on wearing masks;
- Requiring the utilize of body cameras; AND
- Committed immigration agents carry appropriate proof of identity.
In response to the immigration agents who shot Pretti, the president ordered his border czar, Tom Homan, to Minneapolis.
– said Homan during the morning press conference that immigration enforcement will only end if state officials cooperate and assist the federal government in the Trump administration’s immigration campaign. States and localities are not required to enforce immigration laws because that is the federal responsibility.
Homan did not specify how long he would remain in Minnesota, only “until the problem goes away.”
Collins is calling on lawmakers to support the package
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins, D-Maine, urged lawmakers to adopt the entire package before a vote, noting that changes to the Homeland Security Funding Act cannot be made unless senators first agree to formally begin debate.
“I am hopeful that we will be able to reach an agreement that will allow us to move forward with this bill and provide additional protections. Those negotiations are currently ongoing,” Collins said. “But if we don’t address this package, we won’t be able to change it. I think our colleagues across the aisle need to recognize and acknowledge that.”
Collins noted that the momentary spending bill for DHS would not make changes to the full-year bill, including those related to body cameras, de-escalation training and the Inspector General’s authority to review and investigate detention facilities.
“All of these reforms are critical, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do more,” Collins said. “To do more, we must advance the bill so we can make the critical decisions that are being negotiated by leaders in both the House, Senate and White House.”
Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, said during floor debate that she would not vote for the package until the Homeland Security Act was removed.
“While I am very pleased that the White House and Republicans are currently talking to Democrats about finalizing the plan, passing the five bills and dividing DHS, I will not agree with this bill until that deal is finalized,” Murray said.
She said the Department of Homeland Security’s full-year spending bill should not become law until senators make “real progress on accountability.”
“ICE and (Customs and Border Protection) are out of control and we cannot pass this bill until common sense reforms are included,” Murray added.
