Government shutdown looms as Senate blocks major spending package

Govt. shutdown looming as Dems oppose DHS funding

Democratic lawmakers are vowing to oppose a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security following the shooting death of Alex Pretti, a stand that increases the likelihood of a partial government shutdown by the end of the week.

Eight Republicans joined Senate Democrats Thursday in blocking legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies, threatening a partial government shutdown if the two sides can’t reach a compromise by tomorrow. 

At issue are new restrictions on President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement in response to the deaths of two protesters at the hands of federal agents in Minneapolis.

LIVE UPDATES: ICE in Minnesota: Trump border czar says withdrawal of feds depends on cooperation

Is the government shutting down again? 

What we know:

Senate Democrats demanded several new restrictions on immigration enforcement Wednesday, including that officers take off their masks and identify themselves and obtain warrants for arrest.

The US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

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Democrats lived up to their promise to block the bill if their demands weren’t met, but the Republican defectors were an unexpected development. The GOP no votes were Senate Majority Leader John Thune, along with Sens. Ted Budd, R-N.C., Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Mike Lee, R- Utah, Ashley Moody, R-Fla., Rand Paul, R-Ky., Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala.

What they're saying:

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York has said that Democrats won’t provide needed votes until U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is "reined in and overhauled" and that this is "a moment of truth."

RELATED: Greg Bovino to return to 'old job' in El Centro, California after Alex Pretti shooting: Reports

"Democrats are ready to avert a shutdown," Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Thursday. 

The other side:

Trump, too, said he wants to avoid a shutdown, but Thune said Democrats’ ICE demands are "not going to happen in this bill."

Senator Johnson on possible shutdown, ICE & Noem

Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) joins LiveNOW from FOX to talk about the shutdown test vote that failed to pass. Johnson also touches on ICE in Minnesota and two other Republicans calling on Noem to resign. 

What's next:

The government will partially shut down again if a bill isn’t passed by 11:59 p.m. Friday. The two sides are discussing a possible agreement to separate homeland security funding from the rest of the legislation and fund it for a short time. 

What happens if the government shuts down? 

Representative Gill: Democrats need to negotiate in good faith to avoid a government shutdown

Congress is now days away from a partial government shutdown because Senate Democrats say they won't advance a funding bill that includes the Department of Homeland Security. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) says Democrats need to come to the table. 

Dig deeper:

If the government can’t approve a spending bill by 11:59 p.m. Friday, the shutdown would begin Jan. 31. Several departments have already been funded, but others – like DHS, Education, Health and Human Services, Treasury, State and Labor – could see interruptions.  

RELATED: Trump on Noem: Doing ‘very good job,’ won’t step down amid Minnesota shift

That could mean more flight delays for travelers and missed paychecks for millions of government employees. It’s unclear whether tax refunds would be impacted, as the IRS would be included in the potential shutdown. 

The backstory:

If the country has another shutdown, it would come just two months after Democrats blocked a spending bill over expiring federal health care subsidies, a dispute that closed the government for 43 days as Republicans refused to negotiate. 

Fallout from that shutdown landed on millions of Americans, including federal workers who went without paychecks and airline passengers who had their trips delayed or canceled. An interruption in nutrition assistance programs (SNAP) contributed to long lines at food banks and added emotional distress going into the holiday season. That likely wouldn't be an issue for this shutdown because the U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees SNAP benefits and has already been funded. 

The last shutdown ended when a small group of moderate Democrats broke away to strike a deal with Republicans, but Democrats are more united this time after the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal agents.