Department of Homeland Security Braces for Shutdown as Senate Negotiations Collapse
WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is poised to exhaust its funding by the end of Friday, initiating a partial government shutdown after lawmakers departed Capitol Hill on Thursday without securing a legislative compromise. The stalemate leaves roughly 260,000 federal employees facing uncertainty as the Senate enters a scheduled recess that extends through the Presidents Day holiday.
The impasse stems from a contentious dispute between the White House and congressional Democrats over immigration enforcement policies. Negotiations stalled following the Senate’s rejection of a procedural vote to advance a funding bill, which failed 52-47 on Thursday afternoon. Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman was the sole Democrat to break ranks and vote with Republicans, leaving the measure short of the 60 votes required to proceed.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Republican leadership have advocated for a clean funding extension, but Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), have refused to support new appropriations without significant policy reforms. Their demands include a prohibition on the use of face masks by immigration agents, the mandatory use of body cameras, and a requirement for judicial warrants before agents can enter private residences.
These legislative demands emerged in the wake of a highly scrutinized incident in Minneapolis last month, involving the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens by federal agents. The incident has intensified calls from Democratic lawmakers for stricter oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
“The White House and congressional Republicans must listen and deliver,” Senator Schumer stated prior to the vote, emphasizing that Democrats would not yield until “abusive practices” were addressed. Conversely, Republicans argue that the administration has already offered concessions, including a retreat of immigration officers from Minneapolis, which Senator Thune described as a “demonstration of good faith.”
Despite the looming deadline, the Senate has adjourned and is not scheduled to reconvene for votes until February 23. While essential personnel, including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and Coast Guard members, will continue to report for duty without immediate pay, administrative functions within the department are expected to cease. Republican leaders have indicated that ICE operations may largely continue uninterrupted due to surplus funding allocated in previous fiscal legislation, specifically the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” passed last July.
Senate leadership has advised members that they may be recalled to Washington on 24 hours’ notice should a breakthrough in negotiations occur. However, with both sides entrenched in their positions, a quick resolution appears unlikely before funding lapses at midnight Friday.
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