Senate Standoff Over DHS Funding Threatens Federal Shutdown

With just hours to go before a crucial government funding deadline, the United States faces the looming prospect of a partial federal shutdown as lawmakers in Washington remain locked in a heated standoff over immigration enforcement and the future of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The impasse, which has been building for days, follows the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis earlier this month—a tragedy that has galvanized Senate Democrats and intensified scrutiny of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) practices.

According to AP and CNN, the Senate is set to begin voting on a package of funding bills on Thursday, January 29, 2026. If Congress fails to pass the package by 12:01 a.m. ET on January 31, a partial shutdown will begin, affecting a broad swath of government agencies, including DHS, the Departments of Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, State, Labor, and Treasury. These agencies account for more than three-quarters of federal discretionary spending, according to Rachel Snyderman of the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Not all agencies would be impacted: Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, Interior, Energy, Justice, and Commerce have already secured funding for the remainder of the fiscal year and will continue normal operations. But the stakes are high for millions of Americans who rely on the affected agencies for everything from airport security to federal loans and disaster response.

At the heart of the dispute is a growing demand among Senate Democrats for sweeping changes to ICE and federal immigration enforcement. Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has yet to release a final list of demands, but discussions have included requiring agents to obtain judicial warrants and clearly identify themselves before making immigration arrests, ending arrest quotas, sending agents back to the border, and mandating DHS cooperation with state and local authorities in investigations such as the recent shootings in Minnesota. Schumer has been unequivocal in his condemnation, declaring, “This madness, this terror must stop,” and calling for immediate reforms to ICE and U.S. Border Patrol.

Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, who chairs the subcommittee overseeing homeland security spending, explained that Democrats are seeking changes that will “unite the caucus, and I think unite the country,” including an end to so-called “roving patrols” that have alarmed communities nationwide. “None of this is revolutionary,” Murphy said. “None of this requires a new comprehensive piece of legislation.” Both Murphy and Schumer have insisted that any reforms be codified by Congress, not left to administrative promises. “The public can’t trust the administration to do the right thing on its own,” Schumer asserted.

Republican leaders, meanwhile, have expressed frustration with the timing and scope of the Democrats’ demands. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota has called on Democrats to clarify their position and suggested that negotiations with the White House are necessary. “If there are things that the Democrats want that the administration can agree with them about, then let’s do that,” Thune said, but he cautioned that the best path forward would be to keep the funding package intact. Thune also noted the logistical hurdles: any changes made by the Senate would require reapproval by the House, which is currently on recess and not scheduled to return until after the shutdown deadline.

Despite these obstacles, cracks have begun to appear in the Republican ranks. Several GOP senators, including John Kennedy of Louisiana, John Hoeven of North Dakota, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, indicated openness to splitting off the DHS funding bill and passing the other five agency bills immediately. “I think all the bills will pass except Homeland Security, and then we can sit down and talk about Homeland Security,” Kennedy told reporters, adding that “a bunch” of his colleagues share his view. However, such a move would require unanimous consent in the Senate, and any one senator could object, potentially dragging out the process and increasing the risk of a shutdown.

The White House response has been mixed. President Donald Trump, who presided over a record 35-day government shutdown during his first term, has recently promised to “deescalate” immigration enforcement tensions in Minnesota in the wake of Pretti’s death. Nevertheless, Democrats remain skeptical that administrative promises will be enough to address their concerns. Senator Angus King of Maine, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said, “This has to be in the bill. I don’t think we could settle for promises.”

Democrats have spelled out their expectations: new guardrails for federal immigration enforcement, including mandatory warrants for arrests, a ban on agents wearing masks, mandatory body cameras, and a uniform code of conduct for all federal agents. Schumer stated, “Democrats stand ready today to pass the five bipartisan bills in the Senate, but the DHS bill needs serious work. It’s now on Leader Thune to separate out the DHS bill … and start working with Democrats to rein in ICE.”

Republicans warn that a shutdown of DHS would have immediate consequences, especially for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is crucial during the current winter cold snap gripping much of the country. Some, like Senator Mike Lee of Utah, have expressed reservations about stripping DHS from the package, citing the complexity and urgency of the situation. Others have floated the idea of a short-term continuing resolution to keep FEMA and other essential agencies afloat while negotiations continue.

Even if DHS funding lapses, most of its immigration enforcement apparatus would continue to operate, thanks to supplemental appropriations provided last year. Nearly all DHS personnel, including those in Customs and Border Protection, ICE, the Transportation Security Administration, the Secret Service, and FEMA, are considered essential and would remain on the job—albeit without pay until the impasse is resolved.

The broader impact of a partial shutdown would be felt by millions of Americans. Federal workers could miss paychecks, travelers may face delays at airports, and certain federal loans could be delayed or suspended. The Internal Revenue Service, which is entering peak tax season, would likely require many employees to work without pay, as it has in previous shutdowns. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid payments are expected to continue, but other services, such as the issuance of marriage certificates in Washington, D.C., and new policies from the National Flood Insurance Program, could be halted.

Shutdowns also carry significant economic consequences. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the five-week shutdown in 2018-2019 resulted in a $3 billion loss in economic growth that was never recovered. The U.S. Travel Association has warned that a shutdown could cost America’s travel economy $1 billion every week, leading to flight delays, longer security lines, and canceled trips.

Despite the mounting pressure, both sides appear dug in. The conservative House Freedom Caucus wrote to President Trump, declaring their unwavering support for ICE and insisting that any funding bill must include DHS funding. “The package will not come back through the House without funding for the Department of Homeland Security,” the letter stated. Democrats, for their part, say they are prepared to stand firm. “It is truly a moral moment,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. “I think we need to take a stand.”

As the clock ticks down to the midnight deadline, the nation waits to see whether lawmakers can break the deadlock—or whether the U.S. government will once again be forced to shutter its doors, leaving federal workers, travelers, and countless others caught in the crossfire.