WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate failed to pass a funding package that includes the Department of Homeland Security, paving the way toward a partial shutdown of the federal government this weekend.
A handful of Republicans joined Senate Democrats in voting down the package over demands that the agency rein in its Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the wake of two fatal shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis this month.
The spending package failed with 55 no votes when Republican senators, including Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and Ashley Moody and Rick Scott of Florida, opposed the spending package.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., immediately requested a motion to reconsider.
Democrats are continuing to negotiate with Republicans and the White House on new restrictions for President Donald Trump’s surge of immigration enforcement.
Speaking with reporters ahead of the vote, Trump said, “We don’t want a shutdown,” and added the two sides are discussing a potential agreement to separate DHS funding from the other spending bills.
Prior to the floor vote, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said, "There's obviously been a great deal of attention focused on the Homeland Security portion of this package given the events of the past week."
Stilll, she urged her colleagues on the other side of the aisle to pass the bills.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X on Thursday morning: “In 2020, it was vilify and defund the police. In 2026, it’s vilify and defund ICE.” Her post included a link that showed pictures of Schumer and people demonstrating against ICE.
Prior to the vote, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said, “Democrats are ready to pass five bipartisan funding bills in the Senate” — or 96% of the funding for the federal government. “But the DHS bill still needs a lot of work.”
After meeting with the Democratic caucus in the Senate on Wednesday, he said, Senate Democrats were united in three main goals to rein in ICE: ending roving patrols, enforcing accountability and requiring immigration agents to take off their masks and wear body cameras.
On Wednesday, Senate Democrats issued a list of ICE reforms they want implemented, including stopping the ICE surge in Minneapolis, increasing officer training, requiring agents to wear body cameras and changing leadership at the agency.
During a news conference Thursday morning, Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, said the number of immigration enforcement officers in Minnesota would only be reduced once state officials cooperate.
Homan said local jails need to alert ICE about people in their custody who can be deported. He also said that transferring immigrants to the custody of immigration officials while the detainees are still in jail is safer and means federal officers aren’t out on the streets.
He acknowledged that immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota haven’t been "perfect" but was also adamant that the administration isn’t surrendering the mission.
After the Senate vote, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., took to the floor to praise Homan's efforts in Minneapolis.
"I thank the president for putting an adult in charge who actually knows law enforcement by having Mr. Homan go there," he said. “It’s not a secret that I have problems with the secretary of Homeland Security and the way that her leadership has led to unconscionable results in Minneapolis."
If Thune's reconsideration request is unsuccessful, Congress will miss the midnight Friday deadline to avert a shutdown.
The House is in recess through Monday and is not expected to reconvene to consent to any changes in the package of six funding bills it sent to the Senate last week, one of which includes DHS funding.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.