Senate Republicans are scrambling to preserve a government funding package ahead of a Friday deadline to avoid a partial shutdown, as Democrats mount stiff resistance over Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics in Minneapolis following a fatal officer-involved shooting.
Republican lawmakers say President Donald Trump may be open to executive actions to help ease tensions in Minnesota after a Border Patrol agent shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti on Saturday during an anti-immigration protest.
But time is short, and leaders in both parties would need to reach an agreement quickly to prevent a shutdown when funding expires Saturday for the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services and several other federal agencies.
Congress moved closer to a shutdown Monday after Republicans rejected a Senate Democratic demand to remove Homeland Security funding from a six-bill appropriations package passed by the House last week.
The House-approved legislation would provide an additional $10 billion for ICE, on top of the $76 billion the agency is set to receive over four years under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Trump signed into law last year.
Key Republican senators said they want to keep the full six-bill package intact, including the Homeland Security appropriations measure.
“I remain hopeful, certainly have been talking and listening to my Democratic colleagues,” said Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., chair of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. “I think the best pathway forward is to be able pass them all this week, if we can find appropriate things within the purview of the administration,” Britt told reporters at the Capitol.
Republicans argue the Department of Homeland Security legislation Democrats want removed would directly address concerns about federal officers’ conduct and training in Minneapolis.
Britt said the bill would spend less on ICE and Customs and Border Protection than a continuing resolution while increasing funding for accountability measures.
She said the bill includes additional funding for ICE body cameras and training in “deescalation tactics.”
“We’ve also done a lot of good things within this bill. So, if you look at everything from body cameras for ICE, if you look at deescalation for training that’s in there. Also, there is money in there for the inspector general, for detention, etc. I think those are things all Americans can rally behind,” Britt said.
Britt added that she was encouraged by Trump’s outreach to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to reduce tensions following the shooting.
The Trump administration is expected to pull back some Border Patrol agents from Minneapolis, including Border Patrol leader Gregory Bovino, who has drawn criticism from Democrats protesting immigration enforcement operations in the state.
Democrats say those steps are insufficient and vow to block the funding package if it includes Homeland Security money.
“Republicans and the White House have reached out but have not yet raised any realistic solutions,” a Senate Democratic leadership aide said Monday.
Democrats are seeking reforms including banning federal immigration officers from wearing masks during operations and requiring judicial search warrants before entering homes.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., urged Republicans to “join Democrats in overhauling ICE and CBP to protect the public.”
Schumer said Monday that Democrats are prepared to expedite passage of the funding package without the Homeland Security portion.
“If Senate Majority Leader John Thune [R-S.D.] puts those five bills on the floor this week, we can pass them right away. If not, Republicans will again be responsible for another government shutdown,” Schumer said.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, chair of the Appropriations Committee, said she hopes lawmakers can avoid a shutdown.
“My hope is that we’re not going to get to that point, that everyone would realize that a government shutdown is extremely harmful and should be avoided at all costs,” Collins said.
The Senate is expected to take its first procedural vote on the package Thursday, one day before the deadline.
Collins said she has spoken with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who has faced criticism from Republicans including Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina over her handling of two fatal shootings tied to immigration operations in Minneapolis. Collins declined to discuss details of the conversation.
Republicans across both chambers have called for a full investigation into Saturday’s shooting and urged the administration to de-escalate tensions.
Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, suggested redeploying ICE officers away from Minneapolis.
“If I were President Trump, I would almost think about, ‘OK, if the mayor and the governor are going to put our ICE officials in harm’s way and there’s a chance of losing more innocent lives, then maybe go to another city,’” Comer told Maria Bartiromo on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called for “everyone” to “ratchet the anger down,” noting that two U.S. citizens “who have been killed in confrontations with law enforcement” in Minneapolis were “from all appearances … not violent criminals.”
Senate Homeland Security Committee Chair Rand Paul, R-Ky., sent letters Monday to the heads of ICE, Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requesting testimony on Feb. 12.
Paul noted that the pending Homeland Security appropriations bill would add $10 billion for ICE on top of the $76 billion Congress allocated to the agency over four years under legislation passed in 2025.
