Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol on January 28, 2026. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Senate was unable to advance a funding package Thursday, bringing the federal government closer to a partial shutdown as Democrats push for restrictions on immigration enforcement.
The 45-55 vote required at least 60 senators to agree to move forward with debate on the six budget bills, which were bundled together before Friday’s midnight deadline.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said shortly before the vote that he was bullish that Democrats and President Donald Trump could reach an agreement that avoids a shutdown. The progress of the package was come into doubt following the fatal shooting of a second U.S. citizen by immigration officers in Minneapolis on Saturday.
“I’ll let the White House speak for itself. But there have been very constructive discussions and conversations that I’ve been a part of, and so let’s just say I’m hopeful,” Thune said. “But I don’t want to put the cart before the horse.”
This deal would likely replace the full-year funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security and replace it with a brief stopgap measure, giving lawmakers and the administration more time to negotiate a bipartisan deal.
The House would have to approve any changes to the package before it could be sent to Trump for his signature, which could cause a funding shortfall over the weekend and into Monday, when that chamber is scheduled to return from a recess.
Senate Democrats’ immigration reforms can wait
Thune said the immigration enforcement changes that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., detailed earlier this week will not be included in this administration funding package but could be included in a bill later this year.
“That will not happen in this bill,” Thune said. “But there is a way to take some of these things into account and negotiate them between Republicans, Democrats, the House, the Senate and the White House.”
Thune said negotiators had not yet determined how long the stopgap bill for the Department of Homeland Security would take, but said he hoped the House of Representatives – which is narrowly controlled by Republicans – would be able to quickly pass a revised package after the changes are finalized in the Senate.
Congress has approved half of the dozen annual government funding bills but must approve the remaining measures before the stopgap bill keeping those departments running 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 go without funding.
“Enough is enough”
Schumer said in a speech that the Trump administration’s handling of immigration enforcement was a “moral abomination.”
“Enough is enough. What (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is doing outside the law is state-sanctioned crime and it must stop,” Schumer said. “Congress has the authority and the moral obligation to act.”
Schumer reiterated that Democrats will support and lend a hand advance five of the package’s funding bills, but said the Homeland Security bill “still requires a lot of work.”
During a Cabinet meeting Thursday morning, Trump said he did not want a partial government shutdown and was working with Senate Democrats.
“Hopefully there won’t be a shutdown, we’re working on that right now,” Trump said. “I think we’re getting close to that, the Democrats don’t want to see that either, I don’t think so, so we’re going to work together across party lines.”
A White House official wrote in a statement: “President Trump has been consistent – he wants the government to stay open, and the administration has worked with both parties to ensure the American people do not have to endure another shutdown.”
“A closure would jeopardize disaster relief funding and other vital resources for the American people,” the official added. The DHS bill includes funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is assisting states after a severe winter storm last weekend.
A certain consensus
Democrats and Republicans reached consensus on some changes to the Homeland Security appropriations bill January 7: Shooting of 37-year-old Renee Goodincluding funding for body cameras and additional oversight of detention facilities.
The house approved this bill last week and sent it to the Senate as part of the larger package.
But border guards Shooting of Alex Pretti Saturday prompted Democrats to call for a rollback of the DHS spending bill to give lawmakers time to negotiate additional guidance on federal immigration measures.
Schumer sketched a list of proposed changes on Tuesday, including:
- The End of Patrols;
- Tightening the rules for the exploit of warrants;
- Require Immigration and Customs Enforcement to coordinate with state and local law enforcement;
- Establish a uniform code of conduct that ensures that federal law enforcement is held to the same standards that apply to state and local authorities;
- ban on wearing masks;
- Requiring the exploit of body cameras; And
- Designating immigration officers carry proper identification.
In response to the shooting of Pretti by immigration agents, the president ordered his border czar, Tom Homan, to travel to Minneapolis.
Homan said during a morning press conference that immigration enforcement would only end if state officials cooperate and support the federal government in the Trump administration’s immigration campaign. States and localities are not required to enforce immigration law because it is the responsibility of the federal government.
Homan did not specify how long he would remain in Minnesota, only “until the issue is resolved.”
Collins is urging lawmakers to support the package
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine, urged lawmakers to advance the entire package before the vote, noting that changes to the Homeland Security funding bill cannot be made unless senators agree to formally begin debate first.
“My hope is that we can reach an agreement that allows us to move forward with this bill and provide some additional protections, and those negotiations are currently underway,” Collins said. “But if we don’t get to this package, we can’t change it. And I think our colleagues across the aisle need to recognize that and acknowledge that.”
Collins noted that a stopgap bill for DHS would not implement the full-year law’s changes, including body cameras, de-escalation training and the inspector general’s authority to inspect and investigate detention centers.
“These are all critical reforms, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do more,” Collins said. “But to do more, we must move the bill forward so we can make the critical decisions negotiated by leadership in both the House and the Senate and the White House.”
Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, said during floor debate that she would not vote for the package until the Homeland Security bill was eliminated.
“While I am very pleased that the White House and Republicans are now talking with Democrats about finalizing a plan to pass the five bills and spin off DHS, I will oppose this bill until this deal is done,” Murray said.
The Department of Homeland Security’s full-year budget proposal, she said, should not go into effect until senators make “real progress on accountability.”
“ICE and (Customs and Border Protection) are out of control and we cannot approve this bill until common sense reforms are included,” Murray added.
