The Senate rejected a government funding package Thursday in a procedural vote that fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance, as Democrats voted unanimously to block the measure and push for changes to how immigration enforcement agencies operate. The failed vote sets the stage for a partial government shutdown beginning Friday at midnight, though negotiations between Senate Democrats and the White House are ongoing in hopes of reaching a compromise before the deadline.
The six-bill package would have funded large portions of the federal government through September 30, including the Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard, FEMA, and TSA. The vote count was 45-55, with all Senate Democrats opposing the measure alongside several Republicans who have their own concerns about the bill.
Background
Democrats have spent weeks pushing for changes to how the Department of Homeland Security conducts immigration enforcement operations. Their demands intensified following two separate deaths involving federal agents. Renee Good, a mother of three in Minneapolis, was fatally shot by an immigration enforcement officer earlier this month. More recently, Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, was killed in a shooting involving federal agents over the weekend.
These incidents sparked grassroots organizing efforts and calls from civil rights groups demanding accountability. Senate Democrats have made it clear they will not approve funding for the government unless they get a chance to address what they see as unchecked enforcement tactics.
"Grassroots organizers in Minneapolis and across the country, who have been standing up for months demanding an end to ICE's terror campaign, showed all of us that democracy still prevails in America." – NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson
The core issue centers on separating DHS funding from the other five government spending bills. Democrats argue this separation would allow them time to negotiate policy changes without blocking funding for critical agencies like FEMA, which is particularly important as communities continue recovery from a widespread winter storm that hit the country last weekend.
Key Details
Democrats have laid out specific demands for how immigration enforcement should operate going forward. These include ending roving patrols by ICE agents, requiring federal agents to follow the same use of force policies applied to state and local law enforcement, preventing agents from wearing masks during operations, and mandating the use of body cameras.
Many of these requests were pursued earlier in the legislative process at the committee level but did not gain enough support to be included in the bipartisan compromise package that initially moved forward.
Republican divisions
The vote also revealed divisions within the Republican caucus. While most Republicans supported the funding package, six GOP senators voted against it: Ted Budd of North Carolina, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Mike Lee of Utah, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Rick Scott and Ashley Moody of Florida. Some are seeking to reshape the DHS funding bill, while others want further spending cuts.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune voted "no" strategically, giving himself the option to force reconsideration of the measure later if a deal comes together. Thune said Thursday that he believed negotiations were "trending in the right direction."
Signs of potential movement
There are indications that the White House may be willing to work with Democrats on changes. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem informed Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins that ICE had ended its enhanced operations in Maine at the Republican lawmaker's request, signaling potential flexibility from the administration.
Democrats have indicated they could support a very short-term spending patch—lasting only days—that would temporarily extend DHS funding while negotiations continue on a longer-term deal with policy changes.
What This Means
A partial government shutdown is now likely to begin Friday at midnight, though the exact duration remains unclear. The House of Representatives is out of town until Monday, which complicates efforts to quickly pass new funding legislation. Hard-liners in the House have already vowed to complicate leadership's ability to pass funding bills a second time, meaning even if the Senate reaches a deal, the House process could drag things out.
Critical government functions will be affected, though the impact depends on how long the shutdown lasts. FEMA's ability to respond to ongoing disaster recovery could be hampered, a particular concern given the recent winter storm. Other agencies like the TSA and Coast Guard would also face disruptions.
Both parties say they want to move quickly to resolve the situation. Republican leaders were set to meet Thursday to discuss options for moving forward. The White House has not yet publicly commented on the ongoing negotiations, though sources indicate Democratic leadership is more optimistic about the direction of talks than White House officials.
The standoff represents a rare moment when Democrats have enough use to force changes to immigration enforcement policy, using the threat of a government shutdown as their bargaining tool. Whether that use results in meaningful policy changes or just a temporary reprieve remains to be seen in the coming days.
