Jan 29, 2026 - Politics & Policy

Senate Dems block funding bill amid DHS overhaul fight

Stephen Neukam

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Alex Padilla walk to a news conference at the U.S. Capitol. — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 28. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Senate Democrats on Thursday blocked a package of government funding bills from advancing, as Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) inches toward a deal with President Trump for changes at DHS in exchange for averting a shutdown.

Why it matters: Democrats spent the week pledging to block government funding without reforms to ICE and Customs and Border Protection following a string of shootings involving federal law enforcement in Minnesota. They're now working toward a deal, but the clock is ticking.

Democrats voted in unison against a procedural motion to advance the funding package. The motion, which required 60 votes to prevail, failed 45-55.
But with the government running out of money at the end of the day Friday, there is urgency to get a deal done to avert a partial shutdown.

Driving the news: Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Trump moved toward a deal overnight on Wednesday that would include full-year spending bills for agencies besides DHS, which would be funded through a short-term stopgap measure.

That DHS stopgap is meant to give lawmakers and the White House time to negotiate reforms and changes to the department.

Zoom out: Schumer said Wednesday that Democrats are united around demands to bar federal agents from wearing masks, require body cameras and tighten the use of warrants in immigration enforcement, among other asks.

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Senate Dems block funding bill amid DHS overhaul fight

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