Senator Roger Marshall claims Jeffries is upset about the Trump-Schumer funding agreement.

Government Funding Negotiations Continue Amid Shutdown

Senate Republicans indicated on Wednesday that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York might be feeling slighted after not being part of a government funding agreement between President Trump and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

On Tuesday, the House passed a funding package with a two-week extension for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This was significant as it marked the fourth day of a partial government shutdown. Notably, Jeffries and 21 other House Democrats opposed the measure.

Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) noted that Jeffries had been, how should I put it, a “pain in the butt,” which may have led to his exclusion from the agreement. He added, “He was also hurt that President Trump didn’t call him. But I think it’s really Schumer’s fault.”

Marshall recounted a meeting where Senate Republicans discussed funding with President Trump as the deadline approached. “The president says, ‘Call Schumer.’ They call Schumer. They broker a deal,” he explained.

Marshall further criticized the sequence of events, suggesting it was Schumer’s responsibility for not involving Jeffries sooner. “Hakeem’s feelings are really hurt and it’s a real struggle for him as he’s fighting for his political career,” Marshall stated.

The recent agreement covers funding for 11 out of the 12 government agencies, but the situation for DHS remains uncertain. There are ongoing calls from Senate Democrats for stricter reforms at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), particularly after a tragic incident involving the death of Alex Preti during an immigration operation.

With the looming deadline, Republicans face pressure as they look towards a two-week continuing resolution to address unresolved issues.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) confirmed that negotiations with Senate Democrats would be led by Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), who chairs the Homeland Security Appropriations subcommittee. However, he acknowledged that Trump will ultimately play a pivotal role in these discussions.

Schumer, on his part, emphasized the necessity of including Thune in the negotiations, stating, “If Thune’s leaders negotiate in good faith, we can make it happen. We will be presenting a very serious and detailed proposal to Republicans soon.”