WASHINGTON, D.C. — Capitol Hill is racing against the clock as lawmakers scramble to end the partial government shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security.
A new plan from Senate Republicans could break the stalemate, but it’s unclear if that plan has the necessary support from Democrats — and even House Republicans.
On Tuesday, Senate Republican leaders felt confident they found a path forward with a proposal that would fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, except for a small portion of immigration enforcement spending.
Momentum for that proposal sank throughout the day Wednesday, and now, lawmakers have more questions than answers.
The latest proposal by Senate Republicans to end the partial government shutdown would have funded the entire Department of Homeland Security, except for a small portion of ICE.
On Wednesday, Democratic negotiators reportedly declined and countered that offer, maintaining their demands for additional ICE reforms, like no masks and judicial warrants. The new Homeland Security Secretary, Markwayne Mullin, said in a Senate confirmation hearing last week that he would require ICE to have a judicial warrant to enter homes, except for extreme circumstances.
“ICE needs to be brought under control. We cannot have a situation where taxpayer dollars are being used to brutalize and kill American citizens,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
Senate Democrats have tried repeatedly to separate ICE dollars from the DHS funding bill until there’s compromise on reforms for the immigration enforcement component of DHS. On Wednesday, Senate Democrats tried- for the tenth time- to pass a bill that would pay TSA workers.
“Today, for the TENTH TIME, Democrats will go to the floor to demand that we pay TSA immediately,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. said on social media. “And for the TENTH TIME, Republicans will have a chance to join us. I’m not holding my breath.”
The partial shutdown, now dragging into its sixth week, has left thousands of federal workers — including TSA agents — working without pay. The latest Senate GOP proposal would have ended the shutdown while putting some ICE dollars on hold, but Democrats argue it doesn’t go far enough.
However, House Republican leaders also aired concerns with the Senate’s proposal.
“We always have homeland funded as an entire department. There’s obvious reasons for that. It’s very important. I don’t think we need to be breaking it apart,” said Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., Wednesday morning.
Frustration is growing among House Republicans, who say it’s time to end the impasse.
“Don’t act here for yourself, act here for your constituency. Look at who you represent,” said Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa. “I would just ask people to please take a look at who it is we’re trying to protect.”
“The bottom line is the Democrats have held the American public hostage now twice in the last six months. It’s shameful that they’re using our American citizens as hostages to their political gamesmanship,” said Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich. “Come up with a plan that works — if everybody is a little unhappy with the negotiations, that means it’s a good negotiation. If one party thinks they really got screwed, they’ll find a way to get even.”
Democratic leaders are criticizing President Trump for wanting to tie the SAVE America Act — a controversial voter ID bill — into DHS funding. Democrats cite that as a big reason for the ongoing stalemate.
Lawmakers are just two days away from their Spring recess. Lawmakers have until Friday to reach a breakthrough or risk extending the partial shutdown and its travel impacts.
