- Senate blocked six-bill funding package on 29 January 2026 over Democratic demands for DHS and ICE reforms, risking partial government shutdown by Saturday midnight.
- Pennsylvania House Democrats urged Senators Fetterman and McCormick to oppose DHS funding without enforceable changes to ICE operations, citing public safety and due process risks.
- Letter to editor (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 30 January) calls for Congress to reject DHS funding until reforms like warrants, de-escalation training and ending racial profiling are secured.
- Triggered by fatal ICE shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minnesota; proposed reforms include body cameras, no masks and uniform conduct codes.
- House Republicans warn against Senate alterations; negotiations seek short-term DHS extension while separating non-DHS bills for passage.
Washington (Washington Insider Magazine) January 30, 2026 – Congress stands on the brink of a partial government shutdown after the Senate blocked a six-bill funding package on 29 January, primarily due to Democratic demands for reforms to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operations. Pennsylvania Democratic House members urged their senators to oppose the DHS funding bill without enforceable changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and related agencies, citing risks to public safety and due process. A letter to the editor published on 30 January called for Congress to vote no on DHS funding until reforms including warrants, de-escalation training and ending racial profiling are secured. Negotiations continue between Senate leaders and the White House for a compromise separating non-DHS bills while extending short-term DHS funding to avert a lapse by Saturday midnight.
The Senate vote on Thursday, 29 January 2026, saw 45 votes in favour and 55 against advancing the appropriations package, falling short of the 60-vote threshold needed to overcome a filibuster. Democrats, joined by several Republicans including Senators Mike Lee, Rand Paul, Rick Scott, Ted Budd, Ron Johnson, Ashley Moody and Tommy Tuberville, opposed the bill. Senate Majority Leader John Thune voted against it procedurally to allow bringing the measure up again.
Triggering Incident Sparks DHS Reform Demands
The impasse stems from public outrage over fatal shootings by federal immigration agents in Minnesota. On the weekend prior to 28 January, agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, and Renee Good, intensifying scrutiny of ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) practices.
Democrats in both chambers have conditioned support for DHS fiscal year 2026 funding on reforms addressing these incidents. Proposed changes include ending roving patrols, requiring written warrants for enforcement actions, mandating body cameras, establishing a uniform code of conduct, use-of-force rules and de-escalation training for officers.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated on 28 January, "Until ICE is properly reined in and overhauled legislatively, the DHS funding bill doesn't have the votes to pass." Senator Chris Murphy, ranking member of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Homeland Security, indicated that such reforms could be negotiated in a few days as the proposals have been under discussion.
Pennsylvania Delegation's Letter Calls for Opposition
On 27 January, a group of Pennsylvania U.S. House Democrats sent a letter to Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick urging them to vote against the DHS funding bill without reforms. The signatories, including Representative Chris Deluzio, wrote, “We urge you to oppose any legislation that provides funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) without first securing meaningful, enforceable reforms to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and related DHS agency activity.”
The letter continued, “Funding without adequate reform risks endorsing current approaches that undermine public safety and due process, erode American liberties, and weaken public trust.” The Pennsylvania members noted they had voted against the bill the previous week and requested the senators do the same as the Senate considered it that week.
This position aligned with broader Democratic efforts in the Senate, where Senator Fetterman joined others in blocking the package.
Letter to Editor Demands Specific DHS Overhauls
A letter to the editor published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on 30 January by George Perkins of Madison explicitly stated, "Congress must vote no on DHS funding without reforms." Perkins argued that funding ICE and CBP enables "invasion of American communities, resulting in disorder, turmoil, and fatalities."
The letter listed required reforms: no unidentified officers in masks; no chemical agents against peaceful demonstrators; elimination of extremists and halting recruitment without background checks; extensive de-escalation training and professional policing education; cessation of racial profiling with written warrants required; no performance quotas or financial incentives; full cooperation with state investigations into Renee Good, Alex Pretti and others. Perkins concluded, "Funding should not be provided without clear adherence to these reforms."
The publication also noted projected ICE costs of $30 billion by 2026 and questioned the agency's focus on separating "criminal citizens" from "criminal non-citizens," advocating local handling of prosecutions.
House Republicans Warn Against Bill Changes
House Republicans have cautioned the Senate against altering the DHS-inclusive package passed by the House. A House GOP leadership aide told The Hill, "Any adjustments to the bipartisan agreement established with the Senate after the House has already passed it would not be feasible."
Members of the House Freedom Caucus warned in a letter to President Trump that if Democrats renege, they are prepared to unilaterally fund the government, including changing Senate rules to eliminate the 60-vote filibuster threshold or using budget reconciliation for DHS and Defense funding. The Caucus stated the package "will not return to House without [funding] for the [Department] of Homeland."
Conservatives indicated they would demand substantial concessions if the Senate separates DHS funding and would explore independent financing without Democratic support.
Senate Vote Dynamics and Republican Positions
The 29 January Senate vote highlighted divisions within the Republican majority. Several GOP senators, including those listed earlier, joined Democrats in opposition, reflecting willingness among some to consider DHS reforms.
Senate Majority Leader Thune expressed optimism post-vote that additional votes could occur Thursday night and emphasised avoiding a shutdown. Some Republicans suggested detaching DHS funding from the other five bills covering military, CDC, Head Start and cabinet departments.
President Trump commented, “We’ll work in a very bipartisan way, I believe, not to have a shutdown. We don’t want a shutdown.”
Proposed Compromise and Short-Term Extensions
Negotiations between the White House and Senate Democrats aim to pass the five non-DHS bills immediately while providing short-term DHS funding to allow reform talks. Democratic leaders support this approach, with the temporary extension buying time for oversight tightening on ICE and CBP.
Reports on 29 January indicated an agreement had been reached on this framework, with further details forthcoming. Senate action has been delayed by weather disruptions alongside the DHS debate.
The package requires House re-approval if modified, complicating timelines as the House is in recess this week. Hardline House Republicans have vowed opposition to Senate changes.
Background on DHS Funding and ICE Operations
The six-bill minibus passed by the House grouped DHS with other priorities, necessitating Senate handling before the Saturday deadline. Failure to act risks partial shutdown of affected agencies starting midnight Saturday.
DHS encompasses ICE and CBP, whose enforcement actions have drawn criticism post-Minnesota incidents. Democrats seek to bar masks, mandate warrants and body cameras, and update conduct codes.
Schumer and others frame reforms as essential to reining in ICE before full-year funding. House Democrats' stance, as in the Pennsylvania letter, underscores bipartisan chamber concerns over agency practices.
Public letters like Perkins' amplify calls for prosecutorial accountability for unlawful activities and cooperation with state probes.
Risks of Shutdown and Legislative Pathways
A shutdown would impact Defense, Health and Human Services and others if bills remain bundled. Senate choices involve separating DHS—facilitating other funding—or risking Democratic blocks.
House re-vote requirements for changes heighten shutdown risks given recess and GOP resistance. Freedom Caucus threats of unilateral action via rule changes or reconciliation add pressure.
Thune and Trump prioritise avoidance, with bipartisan optimism for a deal. As of 30 January, compromise talks focus on temporary DHS extension amid reform demands.