Congress Is Racing To Avoid A Shutdown: Lawmakers are deadlocked over Department of Homeland Security funding after a Minneapolis shooting by a federal immigration agent renewed calls for reforms. Senate Democrats, galvanized by the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renée Good, say they will block DHS funding unless measures such as body cameras, visible IDs and limits on anonymous operations are adopted. The Senate adjourned without a vote; funding expires at midnight and the Senate reconvenes Friday at 11 a.m. ET. If DHS funding is removed, most of the government could stay open, but a partial shutdown would still disrupt travel, federal services and disaster relief.
Minneapolis Shootings Trigger DHS Funding Standoff; Congress Faces Midnight Shutdown Deadline
Border Patrol agents at the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis.(Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)
Congress is racing to avert a government shutdown as lawmakers remain deadlocked over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis by a federal immigration agent.
Late Thursday, President Trump said Senate Democrats and Republicans had reached an agreement to temporarily fund DHS while lawmakers negotiate reforms to immigration enforcement. The Senate adjourned without voting on the measure, however, and any agreement would still need passage in the House. Government funding expires at midnight; the Senate is scheduled to reconvene Friday at 11 a.m. ET.
What Sparked the Standoff
The funding fight intensified after Alex Pretti was shot and killed on Saturday by a Border Protection agent in Minneapolis. That incident — coming less than three weeks after Renée Good was killed by an ICE agent in the same city — prompted a group of Senate Democrats to insist they will block any bill that includes new funding for DHS unless specific reforms are adopted.
Democratic Demands
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer outlined a set of reforms aimed at reining in ICE and CBP. His package includes:
- Tighter rules for the use of warrants and better coordination with state and local law enforcement;
- A uniform code of conduct for federal immigration agents;
- Prohibitions on face coverings for agents during operations, mandatory body cameras, and visible identification for officers.
"We want masks off, body cameras on," Schumer said. "No more anonymous agents, no more secret operatives."
Where Funding Stands
When Congress ended the previous shutdown in November, most agencies were funded through Jan. 30, giving lawmakers fewer than three months to finish the rest of the budget. Leaders split remaining spending into three bills; two have been enacted (covering Agriculture, Energy, Justice and Interior). The third package, which includes DHS funding, was approved narrowly by the House but stalled in the Senate after Democrats pledged to filibuster unless DHS language is removed.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Capitol Hill.(Anadolu via Getty Images)
When the DHS portion reached the Senate floor, Democrats followed through on their threat and opposed the measure; eight Republicans also voted against it. Democrats say they would approve the rest of the funding immediately if DHS language were stripped, allowing core departments such as Defense, Transportation and Labor to remain open while DHS-specific negotiations continue.
Potential Impact of a Partial Shutdown
Because two of the three funding bills already have been signed into law, the next lapse would be a partial shutdown. That means some services would continue — for example, SNAP benefits and national park operations are expected to remain funded — but other areas would be disrupted.
- Air traffic controllers and TSA employees could be required to work without pay, raising the risk of travel delays.
- Thousands of federal workers could be furloughed, slowing functions such as loan approvals, grant processing, permitting reviews and some health- and tax-related services.
- Even if DHS alone lapses, agencies like TSA and federal disaster-relief programs — which lack the $43 billion cushion some border agencies received last year — could face immediate strain.
Political Dynamics And Next Steps
Republican leaders remain broadly aligned behind the administration’s immigration stance, but fissures have emerged. Several GOP senators have called for investigations or changes in DHS practices, and at least two Republicans have urged the department’s leader to resign in response to the Minneapolis shootings.
Procedurally, even if the Senate passes a revised package, the House — currently in recess — would have to return to Washington for a vote. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the earliest that could happen is Monday, making a short shutdown a real possibility.
What to watch next: whether Senate negotiators can bridge the gap between Republicans who want DHS funding retained and Democrats demanding reforms; whether the House returns quickly to approve any compromise; and whether new investigations or policy changes follow the Minneapolis deaths.
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