Momentum on a possible deal to reopen the Department of Homeland Security has stalled after Senate Democrats say Republicans walked back on some of their concessions — while the majority party says Democrats just won’t take yes for an answer.
The Senate rejected a spending bill to reopen the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday, marking the sixth time the legislation has failed to advance. Republicans planned to update the legislation with their latest proposal to fund about 95% of the DHS budget, with other Republicans noting immigration enforcement could be funded in a later bill.
Senate Democrats sent their latest counteroffer to Republicans on Wednesday morning just one day after GOP leaders proposed covering 95% of the DHS budget while leaving deportation operations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement unfunded. But Democrats say some key reforms are missing from the legislative text, which they say is crucial to earn their support.
“Over the weekend, Democrats had constructive conversations in person with our Republican colleagues. They, the Republican colleagues, conceded that some of the reforms … that we have been looking for. They said these make sense,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on Wednesday. “But then Republicans sent us their offer yesterday and contained none of what had been talked about.”
It’s not exactly clear what is included in the latest offer. But Democrats have insisted that Republicans include new restrictions on immigration officers related to mask-wearing as well as requiring judicial warrants for arrests.
Republican leaders formally rejected Democrats’ offer on Wednesday afternoon, calling it unserious.
”It’s not even close to being real,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said. “They know better. They’re asking for things that have already been turned down, so it just seems like they’re going in circles.”
GOP leaders noted that the latest offer includes all the demands that have so far been agreed to, such as funding for body cameras and providing officer identification — arguing Democrats keep moving the goalposts despite concessions from the White House.
“You’ve got to have, as I said before, a willing partner,” Thune said on Wednesday. “And we haven’t seen much evidence at this point that they’re ready to make a deal.”
Senate recess could be canceled
The potential deal unraveled just days before the shutdown becomes the longest closure of a government agency in U.S. history. The Senate is scheduled to leave on Friday for a two-week recess, but that could be canceled if the department is still closed.
No decisions on the schedule have been made just yet.
The latest GOP offer comes after a group of Republican senators met with the White House on Monday evening to hash out the details of a potential agreement, hoping to end the gridlock with Democrats who have demanded reforms for how immigration officers operate. The deal, if approved, would fund most of the department such as TSA and the Coast Guard but leave out funding for enforcement and removal operations.
Those more controversial funds for ICE could then be handled in a future reconciliation package, a procedural tool that would allow Republicans to avoid a filibuster and approve the funds through a party-line vote.
ICE and Customs and Border Patrol already have some funds that were approved during last summer’s reconciliation package, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. As a result, those employees have been paid through the shutdown and operations have largely stayed the same.