Is the Government About to Shut Down Over ICE Funding?
What's the endgame here?
Congress is likely about to trigger a shutdown as Democrat leaders, responding to pressure from their base, demand restraints on immigration law enforcement in exchange for funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
On Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. laid his demands out on the table.
The House has sent the Senate the final six bills to fully fund the government for fiscal year 2026 before a Jan. 30 cut-off. In order for Republicans to bring the funding bills to a final vote, they need the support of at least seven Democrats.
Top Democrats previously appeared to grant their blessing to a bicameral, bipartisan homeland security bill, but they have rescinded their support since the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, 37, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an interaction with federal officers.
Schumer on Wednesday demanded a stand-alone vote on the bill to fund DHS, with the five other bills in the funding package to be considered separately.
In exchange for Democrats’ support of the homeland security bill, Schumer asked for concessions, such as a tightening of the “rules governing the use of warrants,” as well as a prohibition on mask use among Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
Splitting Up the Bills
Now Republicans must decide whether or not to yield to Democrat demands on funding.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., who sits on the Senate appropriations committee, said Wednesday shortly before Schumer announced his demands that it might be necessary to separate the homeland security bill.
“My Democratic colleagues, led by Sen. Schumer, who are controlled by the Karen wing of their party, are not going to vote ‘yes’ right now on the homeland security bill,” Kennedy told reporters.
“Rather than scuttling the whole package, I say let’s go ahead and pass what we can. I think all the bills will pass, except for homeland security, and then we can sit down and talk about homeland security,” Kennedy continued.
Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., was another Republican who expressed openness to accommodating Democrats if it proves politically impossible for them to back the homeland security bill.
“We have to have an open mind on the options,” he told reporters. “Obviously, one that we’re talking about is the five bills go and we do some work on DHS. But obviously the White House has to decide, tell us what they want, [and] we have to work with the House. But we are having those discussions.”
The White House
In this shutdown showdown, the White House’s role is very different than during the last one, in which Republicans repeatedly argued funding disputes are Congress’ problem, not the president’s.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Wednesday morning that if Democrats have demands, they should talk them over with the White House.
“I think right now the conversation should be between the White House and Democrats,” Thune said Wednesday morning. “If there’s a way that the Democrats have things that they want, the White House could accommodate short of modifying the bill, that’s the best way to do what we need to do here, which is to make sure the government is funded.”
Hoeven similarly …
What's the endgame here?
Congress is likely about to trigger a shutdown as Democrat leaders, responding to pressure from their base, demand restraints on immigration law enforcement in exchange for funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
On Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. laid his demands out on the table.
The House has sent the Senate the final six bills to fully fund the government for fiscal year 2026 before a Jan. 30 cut-off. In order for Republicans to bring the funding bills to a final vote, they need the support of at least seven Democrats.
Top Democrats previously appeared to grant their blessing to a bicameral, bipartisan homeland security bill, but they have rescinded their support since the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, 37, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an interaction with federal officers.
Schumer on Wednesday demanded a stand-alone vote on the bill to fund DHS, with the five other bills in the funding package to be considered separately.
In exchange for Democrats’ support of the homeland security bill, Schumer asked for concessions, such as a tightening of the “rules governing the use of warrants,” as well as a prohibition on mask use among Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
Splitting Up the Bills
Now Republicans must decide whether or not to yield to Democrat demands on funding.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., who sits on the Senate appropriations committee, said Wednesday shortly before Schumer announced his demands that it might be necessary to separate the homeland security bill.
“My Democratic colleagues, led by Sen. Schumer, who are controlled by the Karen wing of their party, are not going to vote ‘yes’ right now on the homeland security bill,” Kennedy told reporters.
“Rather than scuttling the whole package, I say let’s go ahead and pass what we can. I think all the bills will pass, except for homeland security, and then we can sit down and talk about homeland security,” Kennedy continued.
Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., was another Republican who expressed openness to accommodating Democrats if it proves politically impossible for them to back the homeland security bill.
“We have to have an open mind on the options,” he told reporters. “Obviously, one that we’re talking about is the five bills go and we do some work on DHS. But obviously the White House has to decide, tell us what they want, [and] we have to work with the House. But we are having those discussions.”
The White House
In this shutdown showdown, the White House’s role is very different than during the last one, in which Republicans repeatedly argued funding disputes are Congress’ problem, not the president’s.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Wednesday morning that if Democrats have demands, they should talk them over with the White House.
“I think right now the conversation should be between the White House and Democrats,” Thune said Wednesday morning. “If there’s a way that the Democrats have things that they want, the White House could accommodate short of modifying the bill, that’s the best way to do what we need to do here, which is to make sure the government is funded.”
Hoeven similarly …
Is the Government About to Shut Down Over ICE Funding?
What's the endgame here?
Congress is likely about to trigger a shutdown as Democrat leaders, responding to pressure from their base, demand restraints on immigration law enforcement in exchange for funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
On Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. laid his demands out on the table.
The House has sent the Senate the final six bills to fully fund the government for fiscal year 2026 before a Jan. 30 cut-off. In order for Republicans to bring the funding bills to a final vote, they need the support of at least seven Democrats.
Top Democrats previously appeared to grant their blessing to a bicameral, bipartisan homeland security bill, but they have rescinded their support since the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, 37, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an interaction with federal officers.
Schumer on Wednesday demanded a stand-alone vote on the bill to fund DHS, with the five other bills in the funding package to be considered separately.
In exchange for Democrats’ support of the homeland security bill, Schumer asked for concessions, such as a tightening of the “rules governing the use of warrants,” as well as a prohibition on mask use among Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
Splitting Up the Bills
Now Republicans must decide whether or not to yield to Democrat demands on funding.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., who sits on the Senate appropriations committee, said Wednesday shortly before Schumer announced his demands that it might be necessary to separate the homeland security bill.
“My Democratic colleagues, led by Sen. Schumer, who are controlled by the Karen wing of their party, are not going to vote ‘yes’ right now on the homeland security bill,” Kennedy told reporters.
“Rather than scuttling the whole package, I say let’s go ahead and pass what we can. I think all the bills will pass, except for homeland security, and then we can sit down and talk about homeland security,” Kennedy continued.
Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., was another Republican who expressed openness to accommodating Democrats if it proves politically impossible for them to back the homeland security bill.
“We have to have an open mind on the options,” he told reporters. “Obviously, one that we’re talking about is the five bills go and we do some work on DHS. But obviously the White House has to decide, tell us what they want, [and] we have to work with the House. But we are having those discussions.”
The White House
In this shutdown showdown, the White House’s role is very different than during the last one, in which Republicans repeatedly argued funding disputes are Congress’ problem, not the president’s.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters Wednesday morning that if Democrats have demands, they should talk them over with the White House.
“I think right now the conversation should be between the White House and Democrats,” Thune said Wednesday morning. “If there’s a way that the Democrats have things that they want, the White House could accommodate short of modifying the bill, that’s the best way to do what we need to do here, which is to make sure the government is funded.”
Hoeven similarly …
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