The possibility of a partial U.S. government shutdown is growing as Senate Democrats refuse to support a major federal funding package that includes financing for the Department of Homeland Security, citing recent fatal encounters involving immigration enforcement officers.
With government funding set to expire at the end of Friday, negotiations have stalled over a $1.2 trillion appropriations bill that would keep several federal departments operating through the fiscal year. Democratic leaders say they cannot back the legislation unless Homeland Security funding is removed and considered separately.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats will block the bill’s progress in its current form, pointing to public anger following the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers earlier this month. Schumer described the incidents as deeply troubling and called for immediate reforms within federal immigration agencies.
The most recent case involved Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, who was fatally shot on Saturday. His death followed another incident on January 7, when Renee Good, also a Minneapolis resident, was killed during an ICE operation. Both cases have sparked protests and renewed scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement practices.
Several Democratic senators echoed Schumer’s stance, urging Republican leaders to break the Homeland Security portion out of the broader funding measure. Senator Angus King of Maine argued that passing the remaining appropriations bills separately would fund the vast majority of the federal government while allowing lawmakers to address DHS oversight concerns independently.
According to King, separating the bills could prevent a shutdown without forcing senators to approve Homeland Security funding under current conditions. He emphasized the need for accountability measures and safeguards before additional money is allocated to immigration enforcement agencies.
The consolidated package, which cleared the House of Representatives last week, funds multiple departments including Defense, State, Treasury, Education, Transportation, and Health and Human Services. It allocates more than $64 billion to Homeland Security, with roughly $10 billion designated for ICE operations.
Republican leaders, however, have shown little willingness to revise the bill. Senate Republicans hold a narrow majority and require Democratic votes to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to advance the legislation. Party officials maintain that altering the package at this stage could jeopardize timely passage and increase the risk of a shutdown.
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins said discussions are ongoing and that multiple procedural options are being reviewed. She suggested that most of the funding bills could pass quickly if brought to the floor individually, though no formal decision has been announced.
Time pressure is intensifying due to unexpected disruptions. A major winter storm forced the Senate to cancel votes on Monday, further limiting the window for negotiations. Any amendments would require the House to return from recess to approve changes before the deadline.
As the deadline approaches, lawmakers remain divided, and the path forward is uncertain. While some federal operations could continue temporarily using existing authorities if a shutdown occurs, funding lapses for other agencies would still impact government services nationwide.
Unless an agreement is reached in the coming days, parts of the federal government could begin shutting down shortly after midnight Friday.
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