President Trump invited Senate Democrats to the White House for talks as a potential partial government shutdown loomed, but rank-and-file Democrats declined the invitation. Democrats support five of the six bills in a six-bill minibus but demand that DHS funding be removed and renegotiated after ICE agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Republicans hold a 53-seat Senate majority and need seven Democrats to reach 60 votes; a Senate vote on the package is scheduled for Thursday ahead of the January 30 deadline. Democrats are pressing for reforms including limits on roving ICE patrols, tighter warrant rules, stronger accountability, a ban on masks for federal agents, and body cameras.
Democrats Decline Trump White House Meeting as DHS Funding Dispute Threatens Government Shutdown
Photo Illustration by Victoria Sunday/The Daily Beast/Getty Images
President Donald Trump invited a group of Senate Democrats to the White House for a "listening session" as lawmakers raced to avoid a partial government shutdown, but rank-and-file Democrats declined the invitation amid a heated fight over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding.
Democratic lawmakers are demanding that Republicans remove DHS funding from a six-bill minibus spending package after ICE agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. The shooting has intensified calls among Democrats for changes to DHS policy and oversight; the incident is reported to be under review.
Deadline and Stakes
The Senate must pass the minibus appropriations package before midnight on January 30 to prevent a partial government shutdown. Republicans control a 53-seat Senate majority and need seven Democrats to reach the 60 votes typically required to overcome procedural hurdles and advance the package.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on Republicans to split the DHS bill from the six-bill funding package on January 28, 2026 and renegotiate it separately ahead of the funding deadline after the ICE killing in Minneapolis on Saturday. / Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images
Where The Parties Stand
Senate Democrats say they support five of the six bipartisan spending bills included in the minibus but insist that DHS funding — which covers agencies including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — requires renegotiation in light of the fatal Minneapolis shooting.
“The White House hopes to avoid another debilitating government shutdown, and invited Democrats for a listening session to better understand their position,” a senior White House official said. “It’s unfortunate their leadership blocked the meeting.”
Republican leaders argue that stripping DHS funding from the minibus would send the package back to the House for final passage, complicating the process while the House is in recess and potentially delaying funding.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune urged Democrats to work with the administration to keep the package intact, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats are unified around a set of "commonsense" reforms to DHS policy and oversight.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Wednesday pushed for the six-bill funding package to remain intact despite Democrats' demands to renegotiate on DHS. / Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images
Democratic Reform Requests
Democratic senators outlined specific changes they want addressed in DHS funding legislation, including ending roving ICE patrols, tightening rules around warrants, strengthening accountability for federal agents, banning mask-wearing by federal law enforcement during operations, and requiring body cameras for agents.
Schumer argued the DHS bill "needs serious work" and urged separate negotiations on DHS funding after the other appropriations are passed, saying Democrats would not accept superficial responses to the reforms they seek.
With a scheduled Senate vote on the six-bill package set for Thursday, lawmakers face a narrow window to negotiate changes without triggering a government funding lapse.
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