Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) and President Donald J. Trump are moving toward a deal to separate Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding from five other House-passed appropriations bills in hopes of avoiding a partial government shutdown this weekend. No agreement has been reached yet but the discussions are ongoing and moving in the Democrats’ direction. Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats are demanding that the pending DHS funding bill be pulled out of the six-bill appropriations package, which the upper chamber is scheduled to vote on later Thursday. The Democratic leader wants to pass a short-term extension of funding for the agency to give Congress time to negotiate and pass legislation to overhaul Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to “rein in ICE and the violence.” The Senate would pass those bills before a Friday midnight deadline, and Congress also would consider a short-term extension for homeland security operations, which would prevent an interruption of services by the Transportation Security Agency, Coast Guard and Federal Emergency Management Agency.
That stopgap bill would provide time for talks between lawmakers and the White House to draft a new homeland security spending bill that would include new restrictions that Democrats have demanded on the tactics of immigration enforcement officers and more accountability for those accused of using excessive force. Among the demands from Democrats are that federal agents carrying out President Trump’s deportation campaign take off their masks, wear body cameras and halt random sweeps and warrantless searches and arrests.
The Senate will take a vote around 11:30 A.M. on the Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to Cal. #302, H.R.7148, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026.
