Senate Nears Shutdown as Democrats Demand DHS Guardrails
Schumer said Democrats will block a six-bill, $1.33 trillion package unless DHS funding is stripped after the Jan. 24 shooting of Alex Pretti.
Overview
Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer said on Jan. 25 that Democrats will withhold votes to proceed on a six-bill, $1.33 trillion appropriations package if funding for the Department of Homeland Security remains included.
The impasse imperils passage of the minibus by midnight Jan. 30 and risks a partial government shutdown that could furlough agencies funded under the package, records show.
President Donald Trump spoke with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Monday and, according to the governor's office, agreed to have White House Border Czar Tom Homan call him to discuss allowing an independent state investigation and reducing federal agents in Minneapolis.
The House-passed DHS title would provide $64.4 billion overall, including $10 billion for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while trimming $115 million from ICE operations, reducing 5,500 detention beds and earmarking $20 million for body-worn cameras, records show.
A Senate GOP aide said Republicans will 'proceed as planned' when the chamber returns Jan. 27, and Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul has requested public testimony from ICE, CBP and USCIS heads by Feb. 12 while the office of Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Ia.) said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is expected to testify on March 3.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story around accountability and public-safety consequences, linking recent federal-agent shootings to the DHS funding standoff. Editorial choices — leading with deaths, foregrounding Democratic plans to block DHS funds, and emphasizing calls for investigations and leadership changes — shape a moral-policy narrative; quoted statements (e.g., Schumer, King) are presented as source content that reinforces that framing.
Sources (40)
FAQ
On January 24, 2026, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old US nurse, was shot multiple times by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis while observing their attempt to enter a donut shop; video showed him holding a phone, not a gun, despite DHS claims he approached with a handgun.
Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer stated Democrats will block the $1.33 trillion six-bill package unless DHS funding is stripped, following the Jan. 24 shooting of Alex Pretti.
The Democratic blockade imperils passage of the minibus by midnight Jan. 30, risking a partial government shutdown that could furlough agencies funded under the package.
The House-passed DHS title provides $64.4 billion overall, including $10 billion for ICE, trims $115 million from ICE operations, reduces 5,500 detention beds, and earmarks $20 million for body-worn cameras.
A Senate GOP aide said Republicans will proceed as planned on Jan. 27; Senate Homeland Security Chairman Rand Paul requested public testimony from ICE, CBP, and USCIS heads by Feb. 12, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is expected to testify on March 3.
History
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