Schumer Demands DHS Be Stripped From Spending Package; GOP Refuses, Warning Of Partial Shutdown Friday
Monday, January 26, 2026, 5:00 P.M. ET. 5 Minute Read, By Haylee Ficuciello, Economy & Finance Editor: Englebrook Independent News,
WASHINGTON, DC.- As the Friday, January 30, 2026, federal funding deadline looms, Senate Democrats and Republicans remain locked in a high-stakes standoff over government spending legislation, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) threatening to block the remaining appropriations package unless lawmakers strip out the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill, which includes funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), from the broader six-bill measure.
Republicans, however, have made clear they will not support separating DHS and ICE funding from the package, setting the stage for a potential partial government shutdown beginning late Friday night if no agreement is reached.
Schumer and Senate Democrats say they will withhold the votes necessary to advance the appropriations package unless Republicans agree to separate DHS funding so that other federal agencies can be funded while immigration enforcement provisions are reworked.
Schumer Stands Firm: No Separation, No Votes;
Speaking on the Senate floor and in public statements, Schumer has drawn a hard line, stating that Democrats will oppose the package outright if DHS funding remains bundled with the other five appropriations bills, which fund Defense, Health and Human Services, Transportation, State, Treasury, and related agencies.
“Senate Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included,” Schumer said, framing his position as a moral and political response to recent fatal encounters involving federal immigration agents, particularly a deadly confrontation in Minneapolis that has ignited renewed scrutiny of ICE operations.
Schumer has argued that separating DHS funding would allow Congress to fund roughly 96 percent of the federal government immediately, while reopening negotiations on DHS with what he described as “guardrails,” accountability measures, and enhanced oversight.
“This is the best course of action,” Schumer said, urging Senate Republicans to work with Democrats to move forward on the five non-DHS funding bills while DHS funding is reconsidered independently.
Several Democratic senators have echoed Schumer’s stance, stating they can no longer support DHS funding without substantial changes, particularly in light of recent enforcement actions that have intensified debate over ICE’s role, tactics, and accountability.
Republicans Reject Stripping DHS From The Package;
Republican leadership has flatly rejected Schumer’s proposal, insisting that DHS funding will remain part of the broader six-bill package.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and other GOP leaders argue that separating DHS at this stage would be procedurally difficult and politically reckless, especially with the House of Representatives currently on recess, meaning any Senate-passed changes could force the House to return early or delay final passage altogether.
Republicans also warn that agreeing to strip DHS funding would amount to ceding leverage on immigration enforcement, a position they say undermines national security and border integrity.
“We’re not defunding ICE,” Utah Senator Mike Lee (R) said publicly. “I’ll oppose any effort to defund DHS. Every Republican should.”
GOP leadership has signaled that the Senate will proceed with the six-bill package intact, daring Democrats to block it and shoulder responsibility for any resulting funding lapse.
GOP Senators Call For Investigations, But Defend DHS Funding;
While Republicans remain united in opposing the separation of DHS funding, several GOP senators have acknowledged the seriousness of the incidents that triggered the current debate and have called for investigations and oversight.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) described recent events as “incredibly disturbing,” calling for a joint federal-state investigation to preserve the credibility of DHS and ICE. Other Republicans, including Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), have similarly called for independent and transparent reviews of agency conduct.
Still, GOP lawmakers stress that calls for oversight do not equate to support for using the appropriations process to restrict or defund immigration enforcement.
Several Republican senators have accused Democrats of using the funding deadline to advance broader immigration policy goals, arguing that withholding DHS funding would weaken border security and law enforcement operations nationwide.
Procedural Crunch Heightens Shutdown Risk;
Under Senate rules, advancing appropriations legislation typically requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. With Republicans holding 53 seats, they need at least seven Democratic or independent votes to move forward if DHS remains in the package.
With Democrats signaling near-unanimous opposition to the bill in its current form, the likelihood of securing those votes appears slim, dramatically increasing the risk of a partial government shutdown beginning late Friday night.
A partial shutdown would not halt all federal operations. Several agencies would continue functioning because some fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills have already been enacted. However, programs and departments tied to expiring funding would face disruptions, furloughs, and delayed services.
The funding impasse underscores a broader national debate over immigration enforcement, congressional oversight, and executive authority, with significant political, economic, and operational consequences should lawmakers fail to resolve the dispute before the deadline.
Editor’s Note:
This article was written by Haylee Ficuciello, Economy & Finance Editor, for Englebrook Independent News, and is based on contemporaneous reporting and publicly available statements from Senate leadership and rank-and-file lawmakers as of January 26, 2026, drawing on coverage from multiple national news organizations and official congressional remarks.
