Senate Democrats block DHS funding bill as impasse deepens

Al Weaver

The Hill

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25.02.2026

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The Hill's Headlines -- February 24, 2026

Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ensuring the shutdown of the agency will drag on through this week as both sides dig in.

Senators voted 50 to 45 on invoking cloture on the motion to proceed to a full-year DHS spending bill. It needed 60 votes to advance.

Appropriators had struck a deal on the bill in January, and it passed the House with the support of six moderate Democrats. But the shooting of Alex Pretti by immigration agents in Minneapolis upended the funding fight and led Senate Democrats to spurn the agreement, setting the stage for the ongoing impasse.

Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.) was the only Democrat to vote with every Republican in favor of the measure. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) returned to the chamber for the first time this month after recovering from a brief hospitalization with flu-like symptoms.

Negotiators on Tuesday admitted there has been little movement in DHS talks in recent days.

“So far, they have not budged on the key issues,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told reporters at a press conference Tuesday.

Democrats have been demanding reforms to how the Trump administration carries out its immigration enforcement campaign as a condition of funding DHS. Schumer on Tuesday specifically pointed to unmasking agents and tightening warrant requirements — both of which have been atop the Democratic wish list in talks.

“So far, we’ve heard crickets from them. Nothing. They’re not negotiating, ” Schumer said. “They’re just trying to pass paper back and forth with no new changes.”

When asked if potential remarks by President Trump about the shutdown could affect negotiations, Schumer responded: “It depends what he says.”

The White House has yet to make a formal counteroffer to Democratic negotiators after the minority party’s most recent proposal about a week ago. Republicans have aired similar complaints to Schumer, accusing Democrats of submitting an offer that was largely the same as their initial 10-point plan.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters that talks at this stage are “informal,” with negotiators keeping up dialogue in order to find a “landing spot.”

“The conversations — they continue, but I wouldn’t say there’s been a, necessarily, a breakthrough yet. … I hope that we get it funded,” Thune said, noting that DHS workers, most of whom have been required to report to work, are at risk of missing a paycheck at the end of the week.

“I’m hoping that there’s a breakthrough here soon,” he continued. “I know there are sincere discussions going on, I know at least from a White House standpoint, and hopefully from the Democrat standpoint as well.”

Democrats also blocked a vote to fund DHS prior to the Presidents Day recess, which ensured the shutdown would go into effect.

With no deal on the horizon, the administration has altered its tactics by pulling government levers in a bid to push Democrats closer to a deal. Headlining those was the weekend move to suspend Global Entry and TSA PreCheck — popular air travel programs that allow passengers to expedite their way through security.

Although the PreCheck decision was quickly overturned, the maneuvers angered Democrats. They noted the administration didn’t make similar moves during the record 43-day shutdown during the fall and that these types of actions are only harmful to Americans.

The travel announcements also arrived alongside others that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has paused “non-emergency recovery work” and that members will no longer be given courtesy airport escorts.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), who represents Dulles International Airport, said in a statement Tuesday that Global Entry was aimed at helping “pre-approved, low-risk travelers” gain “expedited entry” into the U.S., and that more than 18 million individuals used the program during 2025 and saved more than 300,000 officer hours at 79 entry ports.

“Global Entry increases efficiency for travelers and customs agents alike, and the administration’s claims don’t pass the smell test,” he said. “The administration should be focused on working with us on real solutions, not on inflicting pain for American travelers as a political stunt.”

Other Democrats questioned why the administration greenlighted the move and indicated it will do them no favors when it comes to negotiations.

“If they think this is winning votes and friends, they’re wrong,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who represents Chicago O’Hare International Airport, which experienced major delays in recent days, due in part to a snowstorm that pounded parts of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.

“People across this country know who’s holding this up,” Durbin continued. “The administration’s got to sit down in good faith and bargain. The American people have seen this firsthand through the videos. They know exactly what happened in the streets of Minneapolis and the streets of Chicago. They know there has to be a change.”

However, GOP lawmakers have shown little willingness to bend to the Democratic demands. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is largely unaffected by the shutdown and remains funded on account of the $75 billion doled out for border operations in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Those funds are set to cover them for years to come.

On top of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), workers at FEMA, the Secret Service and the Coast Guard are in line to not get paid at the end of the week. About 90 percent of workers at the department are deemed essential amid the shutdown, including 95 percent of TSA workers, ensuring that operations on most fronts will continue even if those workers do not receive paychecks.

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