Graham Lifts Hold, Senate Passes $1.2T Package; DHS Delayed
Senators approved a $1.2 trillion six-bill package on Jan. 30, 2026, after Sen. Lindsey Graham lifted a hold that led to DHS funding being removed and a two-week stopgap.
Overview
The Senate passed a $1.2 trillion, six-bill spending package on Jan. 30, 2026, after Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., lifted a hold that had blocked a vote, senators and Senate aides said.
Democrats said they withdrew support for a House-crafted Homeland Security measure in response to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration officers in Minnesota, forcing leaders to reopen DHS negotiations.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said on the Senate floor he would lift his hold only if leaders guaranteed votes within two weeks on a bill to criminalize sanctuary cities and revised "Arctic Frost" language expanding who can sue, and he warned House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., "I won't forget this," according to his floor remarks.
Senators and aides said the Arctic Frost provision would have authorized up to $500,000 per infraction and involved phone-record subpoenas tied to special counsel Jack Smith's probe that affected eight Republican senators.
House GOP leaders said they expect to prepare the package for floor consideration as soon as Sunday with votes as early as Monday, though parts of the government will remain in partial shutdown mode until the House acts.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame events as political dysfunction by foregrounding conflict and employing colorful verbs (“blasted,” “jammed,” “spicy takes”)—editorial choices that emphasize confrontation. They prioritize antagonistic quotes and procedural setbacks while providing limited contextual defense of contested provisions, producing a cumulative narrative of partisan chaos rather than policy detail.
Sources (12)
FAQ
Graham placed the hold to demand votes on a bill criminalizing sanctuary cities and revisions to the 'Arctic Frost' provision allowing senators to sue over unauthorized access to their phone records.
Democrats withdrew support following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration officers in Minnesota.
The Arctic Frost provision authorizes up to $500,000 per infraction and allows lawsuits for unauthorized access to senators' phone records, tied to special counsel Jack Smith's probe affecting Republican senators.
The package awaits House consideration as early as Sunday or Monday, with parts of the government in partial shutdown until the House acts.
Graham received guarantees for votes within two weeks on a sanctuary cities bill and revised Arctic Frost language.
History
4 sources