With Senate Democrats poised to reject DHS funding expansion, the risk of a shutdown is growing
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Senate Democrats aren’t ready to budge on their push for drastic reforms at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and they’re poised to block Senate Republicans’ plans to avoid a partial shutdown.
Their opposition comes as Senate Republicans and the White House filed a petition opposing Democrats’ proposed changes to DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). But the two sides remain far apart on a deal to fund the agency, and it is quickly expiring.
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., the top Senate Democrat on the Homeland Security spending panel, said he would not support another short-term extension of DHS funding unless Republicans make meaningful concessions on immigration enforcement.
SCHUMER, JEFFRIES DESTROY TRUMP’S DHS PROPOSAL ‘INCOMPLETE AND INADEQUATE’
Senate Democrats aren’t ready to budge on their push for drastic reforms to DHS and ICE, and they’re ready to scrap plans by Senate Republicans to avoid a partial shutdown. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty)
Murphy also dismissed the White House proposal as a series of “phomoric talking points.”
“We had a lot of time, they wasted two weeks,” said Murphy. “They still haven’t given us a solid answer or response.”
His position was shared by several Senate Democrats, who rallied around the push to put together a list of 10 DHS reforms. That includes requirements for ICE agents to obtain warrants, search warrants and show identification — provisions Republicans have labeled red lines.
The controversy follows criticism late Monday by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who rejected President Donald Trump’s proposal.
In a joint statement, the leaders said the proposal was “incomplete and inadequate in terms of addressing the concerns the American people have about ICE’s unlawful conduct.” Jeffries added that he would not support another part of the temporary funding, known as a continuing resolution (CR), on Tuesday morning.
DOGS CLOSE ON WEDNESDAY AS DHS DEAL TAKES SHAPE
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, RS.D., is studying an extension of temporary funding for DHS, and hopes Senate Democrats will support it. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Schumer argued that there was plenty of time to rush a deal.
“There is no reason why we cannot do this on Thursday,” he said.
With Friday’s funding deadline looming, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, RS.D., put together a final plan Tuesday night as the threat of a shutdown grew.
Thune and Senate Republicans have warned since Trump and Schumer finalized a comprehensive funding deal earlier this month that Congress did not have enough time to negotiate and pass a revised DHS funding bill in just two weeks.
“I understand that on the other side of the Capitol, the Democrats are against that, which is not surprising since they have not voted for anything,” said Thune.
“I think there are Democrats in the House and in the Senate who want to see this addressed,” he added. “I hope the negotiations lead to a result, but we probably won’t know when the current CR expires.”
REPUBLICANS WARN DEMOCRATS’ ICE REFORM PUSH HAS BEEN COVERED TO SET FORWARD DEPOSIT
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol during a vote-a-rama about President Trump’s “great big bill” reconciliation package on June 30, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
As with most funding wars, both sides blame the other for failing to negotiate in good faith.
“I’m not going to put DHS on CR until they show us they’re willing to do something,” Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, told Fox News Digital.
Republicans counter that Democrats spent more than a week drafting their proposal, while the White House produced a counteroffer in less than two days.
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Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., told Fox News Digital that Republicans didn’t expect their colleagues to accept their offer, “but we didn’t accept theirs either.”
“Hopefully, this is an effective step,” Mullin said. “We can start negotiating, because we definitely don’t accept their stuff. But what we’re trying to do is protect the ability of ICE and our border agents to do their job. I think it’s clear, though, unless the Democrats want to shut down DHS, we’re going to have to do another CR.”
