In the House, Democrats have already shown strong resistance to the DHS portion of the funding package, with more than 100 members calling for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Because the House sent all six remaining spending bills to the Senate as a single package, removing or rewriting the DHS portion would require complex procedural steps and likely another House vote.
Despite these challenges, Schumer has urged Republicans to move forward with the other five spending bills while renegotiating the DHS measure. He argues that this approach would allow essential government operations to continue while addressing concerns over DHS policies.
Democrats are pushing for specific reforms in the DHS funding bill, including requiring ICE agents to obtain warrants before making immigration arrests, strengthening training standards, requiring agents to clearly identify themselves, and limiting Border Patrol’s involvement in interior immigration raids. Senator Chris Murphy has said Congress should not fund a department that he believes has violated the rights and safety of American citizens.
More Democratic senators continue to publicly oppose the DHS funding plan, including lawmakers from Minnesota, who are calling for a full, transparent investigation into the shootings and urging Republicans to take a stand.
Even if a shutdown occurs, not all government operations would stop. Several major departments, including Justice, Commerce, Interior, NASA, and Agriculture, are already funded through the end of the fiscal year. Food assistance programs are also expected to continue. However, other critical government services could still face disruption, leaving the nation bracing for uncertainty as lawmakers race against the clock.
