Congress left Washington, D.C., on Thursday after Senate Democrats voted down a Republican-backed measure to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through September 2029. The proposal failed by a 52–47 vote, setting the stage for a partial agency shutdown beginning Saturday.
Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to support the measure. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell was absent from the vote due to a recent health complication.
The stalled negotiations come roughly two weeks after Democrats joined Republicans to pass a Trump-backed $1.2 trillion spending package that funds most federal agencies through the fiscal year but only extended DHS funding through February 13.
Immigration Policy at the Center of Dispute
Democratic opposition to the latest DHS funding proposal follows continued backlash from progressive lawmakers over the administration’s immigration enforcement and deportation efforts, including last month’s fatal shootings of civilians by federal officers in Minneapolis.
Democrats declined to support a DHS-focused funding bill this week, citing Republican resistance to proposed operational changes for federal immigration agents. These proposals included:
Prohibiting officers from wearing masks while on duty
Ending roving patrols
Requiring visible identification
Enforcing stricter warrant requirements for arrests
The White House and congressional Democrats remain divided ahead of the looming funding deadline.
Enforcement Funding Insulated
A key complication in the negotiations is a provision included in last year’s reconciliation bill that secured billions in funding for immigration enforcement agencies through 2029. As a result, enforcement operations carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection would continue even if DHS funding lapses.
Instead, a shutdown would likely affect other DHS components, including:
Transportation Security Administration
United States Coast Guard
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Both chambers of Congress are scheduled to be out of session next week.
Administration Offers Concessions
In recent days, the administration has taken steps that align with some Democratic demands.
Earlier this month, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that federal officers operating in Minneapolis would begin wearing body cameras, with plans to expand the program nationwide as funding allows.
Additionally, Trump’s border policy adviser Tom Homan confirmed Thursday that the administration is ending its enforcement surge in Minnesota.
“In the next week, we are going to deploy those officers here on detail back to their home stations or other areas of the country where they are needed,” Homan said at a press conference.
