Shutdown Risk Grows as Senate Democrats Block DHS Funding Over Border Patrol Shooting
Just days to go until the deadline to fund the government or face a partial shutdown, and the odds are growing of a possible shutdown once funding expires at the end of the day on January 30.
Six of the 12 appropriations bills for fiscal year (FY) 2026 are signed into law. The House passed the remaining six, but the Senate needs to pass them all by the deadline.
Senate Democrats are now rejecting the six-bill package over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding, following the shooting death of VA nurse Alex Pretti by U.S. Border Patrol in Minneapolis. Democrats now say they will block the entire funding package unless reforms to the DHS legislation are enacted. Democrats want legislation adding restraints on Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
"I hate shutdowns … but I can't vote for a bill that includes ICE funding under these circumstances,” said Senator Angus King (I-ME), who caucuses with Democrats and voted to end the record-long shutdown last year.
Republicans meanwhile took steps to advance the entire $1.3 trillion funding package and rejected Democrats’ calls to remove DHS funding from the other five bills. Republicans note that the DHS bill passed by the House includes provisions on ICE, such as wearing body cameras and improving transparency.
“We know from recent history that government shutdowns do not help anyone and are not in the best interest of the American people,” said Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Katie Britt (R-AL). “As we approach a government funding deadline, I remain committed to finding a pathway forward.”
RollCall notes that the best hope for a quick resolution would be changes in policy from the administration curbing DHS tactics. President Trump is reshuffling his immigration leadership team in Minnesota, removing Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino from the state, but it’s unclear whether it will be enough.
And even if changes are made to the spending bill package in the Senate, it would have to get through the House again, which is currently on recess.
If the government does it shut down it will be a partial shutdown, impacting the agencies who have not been funded. The bills that still need to pass are the following:
Labor-HHS-Education
Defense
Financial Services
Homeland Security
National Security-State
Transportation, HUD
Employees in such agencies are facing the possibility of furloughs and being asked to work without pay for the second time in recent months. Among those who may be impacted are air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Officers (TSOs), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as tax time begins, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
