Big Update On DHS Funding
Funding for the Department of Homeland Security is set to expire at the end of the week as Democrats in Congress and the White House remain deadlocked with Republicans over immigration enforcement — raising the likelihood of a partial government shutdown beginning Saturday.
The funding impasse centers on Democratic demands for sweeping changes to how federal immigration officers operate, demands Republicans argue would weaken enforcement and undermine border security.
House and Senate Republicans had previously proposed a narrower stopgap funding plan aimed at keeping DHS open while negotiations continued. That proposal included limited reforms for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, such as new funding for body cameras and expanded de-escalation training for agents.
However, Senate Democrats withdrew support for the agreement after a second U.S. citizen died during a confrontation involving federal agents in Minneapolis last month. Since then, Democrats have pressed for far-reaching restrictions on immigration enforcement, effectively stalling final passage of a funding bill.
To avoid an immediate shutdown, Republicans agreed earlier this month to a two-week extension to fund DHS while the rest of the federal government was financed. That temporary extension expires Friday, and talks remain stalled.
Republicans say they are willing to negotiate but have rejected several Democratic proposals — including banning officers from wearing face coverings and imposing stricter warrant requirements — calling them unrealistic and dangerous for law enforcement operations.
If Congress fails to reach an agreement or pass another short-term funding measure, DHS would partially shut down this weekend, marking Washington’s third shutdown in the past year.
While Immigration and Customs Enforcement is expected to remain funded through money allocated under President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” legislation, other DHS agencies could face disruptions. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration would be among the hardest hit if funding lapses.
Democrats formally unveiled their opening offer last week, which includes new federal use-of-force standards and a ban on immigration enforcement activities at so-called “sensitive locations,” including schools and churches.
Republicans, who initially requested a six-week negotiation period, argue that the compressed timeline makes a comprehensive agreement unrealistic. GOP leaders are instead pushing for another temporary extension to keep DHS running while talks continue.
According to the Washington Examiner, negotiations are expected to intensify after Democrats sent draft legislative language to Republicans over the weekend. Even under the best-case scenario, time is running out.
Congress typically needs at least a week to move funding legislation through both chambers and to the president’s desk. Adding to the uncertainty, it remains unclear whether Republicans can secure enough Senate votes to pass even a short-term extension, given Democrats’ leverage under the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster threshold.
Democratic leaders have signaled they will oppose any funding bill that does not include a full-year agreement negotiated directly with the White House. Moderate Democrats have stopped short of rejecting a short-term deal outright but could support one if negotiations show measurable progress.
Some Senate Democrats have even floated the idea of funding every DHS component except ICE — a proposal that Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland has reportedly begun publicly promoting.
Facing growing public scrutiny, the White House has scaled back federal enforcement operations in Minneapolis and mandated the use of body cameras for remaining officers. President Trump also dispatched border czar Tom Homan to meet with local officials and canceled a planned enforcement surge in Maine after outreach from Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.
Republicans say those actions demonstrate good-faith efforts to address concerns while preserving border enforcement. Democrats argue the steps fall short and insist that any changes must be permanently written into federal law.
With the funding deadline fast approaching, Washington remains deeply divided — and the future of DHS operations now hangs in the balance.
