Democrats could shut down the government by Friday by withholding funds for Homeland Security after ICE shootings

[justaprogressive]

By Kevin Freking, Mary Clare Jalonick and The Associated Press

Democratic senators are vowing to oppose a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security following the shooting death of a 37-year-old Minnesota man, a stand that increases the prospect of a partial government shutdown by the end of the week.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, in a social media post hours after the Saturday shooting, said that what is happening in Minnesota is “appalling” and that Democrats “will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included.”

Six of the 12 annual spending bills for the current budget year have been signed into law by President Donald Trump. Six more are awaiting action in the Senate, despite a revolt from House Democrats and mounting calls for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s impeachment.

If senators fail to act by midnight Friday, funding for Homeland Security and the other agencies covered under the six bills will lapse.

“Democrats sought common sense reforms in the Department of Homeland Security spending bill, but because of Republicans’ refusal to stand up to President Trump, the DHS bill is woefully inadequate to rein in the abuses of ICE,” said Schumer, D-N.Y. “I will vote no.”

The White House reached out to Senate Democrats late Sunday, as have Republicans, according to a Senate Democratic leadership aide who insisted on anonymity to discuss the private talks.

But they have not yet raised any realistic solutions, the aide said.

Republicans will need some Democratic support to pass the remaining spending bills in time to avoid a partial shutdown. That support was already in question after Renee Good, a mother of three, was fatally shot and killed earlier this month by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis. But the fatal shooting Saturday of Alex Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse, quickly prompted Democrats to take a more forceful stand.

https://fortune.com/2026/01/26/when-could-government-shutdown-happen-minnesota-shooting-chuck-schumer/]

[Scrivener7]

1. I certainly hope so.

[Johonny]

2. Unlike last shutdown,

Where it was hard to know what could be gained or when to end it. At a bare minimum, Kristi Noem must be removed from the federal government. It's a clear line, and a popular one.

[bigtree]

3. ICE keeps operating in a shutdown

...I'd guess a few are exploring whether to use this time to negotiate changes in DHS policy, including cooperation with state investigations, unmasking, warrants, chemical gas ban, border patrol back to the border and the like; all worthwhile pursuits which would save lives and get a handle on agents' conduct.

I doubt they can get republicans to separate DHS funding from the other priorities they've bundled them with for a Senate vote, so I'd bet at least the ones who were ansy about a shutdown the last time to try and negotiate those, and then will see about letting the reat advance.

I'd remind the Dems in the senate that republicans have yet to accept the House bill to extend ACA tax credits and lower the cost of health insurance for millions of Americans, and that any agreement to move forward should also include that priority that had republicans shutting the government down to avoid fixing, agreeing to a vote but making virtually no effort to advance the concern.

edit update:

Both GOP Sens. Rounds and Kennedy say they support separating DHS from the 6-bill funding package

Link to tweet