The Senate has reached an agreement to fund the government, but Republican frustration with its details, deadlines, and potential changes to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disrupted progress late Thursday night.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and President Trump have decided to remove the contentious DHS funding bill from a larger six-bill funding package. Instead, they’ll fund the agency through a two-week continuing resolution, though lawmakers are still debating amendments to the bill.
Despite the backing of the White House and support from key Democrats, a partial government shutdown is likely to persist over the weekend, as the House still needs to review the policy.
Republican lawmakers, including Lindsey Graham, have raised objections to the deal. Graham expressed dissatisfaction after a particularly heated discussion with ICE officials, stating, “I appreciate what they’re doing, but I’m offended by the criticism directed at them.” He was part of a group of Senate Republicans who did not support the proposed package, which had already seen issues in a crucial test vote earlier that day. Seven Republicans joined all Senate Democrats in that vote.
Even as Trump endorsed the deal, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and his team attempted to calm dissent within the party, with little success. Thune remarked, “Tomorrow is another day. I hope people have the grit to get this done.”
Typically, fast-tracked packages like this one undergo a hotline process in the Senate, allowing for concerns or amendments to be addressed. As of Thursday night, Democrats were waiting for Republicans to clarify their next steps before moving forward with this process.
Part of the DHS funding bill aimed to repeal a controversial provision allowing senators whose phone records were subpoenaed during an investigation to sue for violations. Graham, an opponent of repealing this provision, denied that his opposition was related to it. “We can find a way to move forward, but we won’t find it this way,” he said.
