The Senate faces a growing threat of a partial government shutdown after Democrats vowed to block the current DHS funding measure following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis. Senate leaders say the bill lacks accountability for ICE and CBP, and several moderate Democrats now demand reforms as a condition for support. With Republicans holding a 53-seat majority, at least a handful of Democrats would need to cross the aisle to pass the package, and the House is on recess — narrowing the window to avoid a shutdown.
Government Funding At Risk After Minneapolis Border Patrol Shooting — Democrats Threaten To Block DHS Bill
Protesters gather in front of the Minnesota State Capitol in response to the death of Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer last week, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. - John Locher/AP
The chance that several federal agencies could shut down later this week has grown after Senate Democrats coalesced around a pledge to block the current Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding measure following a fatal shooting involving Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis.
What Democrats Are Demanding
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Saturday evening that Democrats will withhold the votes needed to advance a key spending package if it contains the current DHS funding language, which he described as "woefully inadequate to rein in the abuses of (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)." ICE and Customs and Border Protection are components of DHS.
The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, an intensive-care unit nurse, by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis prompted several Senate Democrats to publicly oppose the current DHS measure and demand stronger safeguards and accountability for immigration enforcement agencies.
Shutdown Risk And Timeline
If the Senate does not pass funding by the midnight Friday deadline, portions of the federal government would shut down, affecting departments including Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development.
A major snowstorm also delayed the Senate's first vote of the week until Tuesday evening, and with the House on recess the window for resolving differences before the deadline is extremely narrow. If the Senate amends the House package, Speaker Mike Johnson would need to recall the House for a new vote.
Federal agents gather amid tear gas during scuffles at the scene of a shooting involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., January 24, 2026. - Tim Evans/Reuters
Politics And Votes
Republicans hold a 53-seat majority in the Senate but need at least a few Democrats to reach the 60 votes typically required to advance major spending legislation. If GOP Sen. Rand Paul votes against the package, as he often does on appropriations, at least eight Democrats would have to cross the aisle to keep all departments open.
Several centrists who previously voted to avert a shutdown are now signaling they will not support the DHS funding measure without new restrictions on ICE. Independent Sen. Angus King — who caucuses with Democrats — said he "can't vote for a bill that includes ICE funding under these circumstances" and urged separating DHS funding from other appropriations so most of the government can remain open.
"Let's have an honest negotiation. Put some guardrails on what's going on, some accountability, and that would solve this problem," Sen. King said. "We don't have to have a shutdown."
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto echoed those concerns, saying the current bill offers "no accountability." Sens. Tim Kaine and Jacky Rosen have said they will oppose DHS funding without additional safeguards, while Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan have criticized ICE but have not explicitly pledged to block the bill. Sen. John Fetterman has not yet announced his position.
Sen. Chris Murphy pushed leaders to demand constraints on what he described as "lawlessness" in immigration enforcement, saying Democrats will only come to the table if meaningful reforms are included.
Outlook
With deadlines looming, bipartisan negotiations will determine whether lawmakers can reach a compromise that funds DHS with added accountability — or whether parts of the federal government will face a shutdown. The situation remains fluid as leaders on both sides assess vote counts and potential paths forward.
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