GOP fractures over DHS funding while Democrats block House Republican proposal
U.S. President Donald J. Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. Behind him are Vice President JD Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA). Kenny Holston /Pool via REUTERS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Senate Democrats signaled opposition to a House Republican continuing resolution aimed at ending the partial government shutdown Friday.
The Republican-controlled Senate earlier approved a bipartisan bill funding most Department of Homeland Security operations while excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but House GOP leadership rejected it as "garbage" and refused a vote.
Instead, House Republicans proposed a 60-day continuing resolution for complete DHS funding.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated the proposal would be "dead on arrival" in the chamber, lacking the 60 votes needed for passage. Schumer reiterated Democratic demands to fund critical DHS functions while refusing to provide unrestricted resources for immigration enforcement without reforms.
The Senate remains in recess for over two weeks, leaving the shutdown unresolved and negotiations stalled between chambers over competing DHS funding proposals.