• Senator Lindsey Graham blocked advancement of Trump-backed government funding deal Thursday night despite White House endorsement
• Agreement would fund five agencies through September while giving DHS two-week extension for ICE reform negotiations
• House return delayed until Monday guarantees partial shutdown will occur over weekend

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — A government funding agreement negotiated between President Donald Trump and Senate Democrats stalled Thursday night after Senator Lindsey Graham objected to the bipartisan spending deal, ensuring a partial government shutdown will begin Saturday despite widespread support for the compromise.

The deal, which would separate Department of Homeland Security funding from a broader six-bill appropriations package, appeared to have the necessary support from both parties earlier Thursday. Trump endorsed the agreement on Truth Social, urging Republicans and Democrats to cast a “much needed Bipartisan ‘YES’ Vote.”

“I am working hard with Congress to ensure that we are able to fully fund the Government, without delay. Republicans and Democrats in Congress have come together to get the vast majority of the Government funded until September, while at the same time providing an extension to the Department of Homeland Security.”

Graham Objects Over ICE Treatment And Phone Records

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Graham, the South Carolina Republican, emerged from Senate Majority Leader John Thune‘s office late Thursday calling the package a “bad deal.” His objection centered on two main concerns: what he characterized as the “demonization” of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and the removal of a provision allowing senators to sue if their phone records are accessed without notice.

“The cops need us right now. They’re being demonized. They’re being spat upon. They can’t sleep at night. I’ve never been more offended than I am right now by what’s being said about these folks.”

Graham was among seven Republican senators whose phone toll data were accessed by former special counsel Jack Smith during his investigation into the January 6 Capitol attack. The provision he sought to protect, nicknamed “Arctic Frost,” would have allowed him and other affected senators to file lawsuits seeking $500,000 in damages.

“What senator wouldn’t want notification that they’re looking at your phone? I dare a House member to suggest that there shouldn’t be a private cause of action for Turning Point USA and the other groups that I think were abused by Jack Smith.”

Democrats Demanded ICE Reforms After Minneapolis Deaths

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The funding crisis stems from Democratic opposition to the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis on January 24. Pretti’s death marked the second U.S. citizen killed by federal immigration enforcement officers in Minnesota this month.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer laid out three specific demands Democrats are seeking in exchange for DHS funding: ending roving patrols by ICE officers and tightening warrant rules, establishing a uniform code of conduct for federal agents including use-of-force policies, and implementing a “masks off, body cameras on” policy.

“This is a moment of truth for the United States of America. What ICE is doing outside the law is state-sanctioned thuggery, and it must stop. And Congress has the authority and the moral obligation to act.”

The Senate voted Thursday morning to block the original six-bill funding package by a margin of 45-55, with all Democrats and eight Republicans voting against advancement. The failed vote demonstrated the leverage Democrats held in securing a compromise that would separate controversial DHS funding from other critical government agencies.

Trump-Schumer Agreement Separates DHS From Broader Package

Under the agreement negotiated between Trump and Schumer, five appropriations bills covering the departments of Defense, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Labor and Education would receive full-year funding through September. This represents approximately 96 percent of government funding for fiscal year 2026.

The Department of Homeland Security would operate under a two-week continuing resolution funded at current levels through February 13, providing time for lawmakers to negotiate the specific reforms Democrats are demanding. Republicans had initially sought a six-week extension for DHS, but Democrats insisted on the shorter timeline to maintain pressure for immediate reforms.

Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Senate Democrat, told CBS News the shorter timeframe was essential to forcing action on ICE accountability measures.

“In the meantime, negotiations will start to change the way ICE is operating and the Department of Homeland Security is operating in Minnesota and across the country.”

Several Republicans expressed reluctant support for the compromise despite preferring to keep DHS funding in the broader package. Senator Steve Daines of Montana acknowledged the political reality facing his party.

“That’s the only way we’re going to get through this without a long government shutdown.”

House Return Monday Guarantees Weekend Shutdown

Even if the Senate resolves Graham’s objection and passes the funding package Friday, a partial government shutdown beginning Saturday at midnight is virtually certain. House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Thursday that the House will not return until Monday to vote on any Senate-passed measure.

“But the House is going to do its job. We want to get the government funded, as does the president, so respect whatever he was able to negotiate there, and we’ll deal with it.”

Johnson expressed optimism about the eventual outcome despite the timing challenges, calling the agreement “a big achievement” at the Washington premiere of the documentary “Melania.” He noted that passage would mean 11 of 12 appropriations bills funded, representing 96 percent of federal funding for the year.

The funding lapse could have minimal practical effects since most government offices are closed over weekends. The Office of Management and Budget may opt not to order a formal partial government shutdown if senators can quickly pass the measure Friday and the House acts Monday.

Multiple Republicans Joined Democrats In Blocking Original Package

The Thursday morning procedural vote that blocked the original six-bill package revealed fractures within Senate Republican ranks beyond just Graham. Seven fiscally conservative Republicans voted against the measure: Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ted Budd of North Carolina, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Mike Lee of Utah, Ashley Moody of Florida, Rick Scott of Florida, and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama.

Paul, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, cited concerns about administrative warrants used by immigration enforcement.

“I am not a big fan of administrative warrants. I think warrants to enter someone’s house should be Fourth Amendment warrants.”

Senator Patty Murray of Washington, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, emphasized that Democratic unity stemmed from genuine policy concerns about ICE accountability, not political gamesmanship.

“We are all in agreement on funding for child care, cancer research, air traffic controllers, our troops and more, but we have also been clear that we cannot and will not move the DHS bill without real progress on accountability. ICE and CBP are out of control.”

Negotiations Continue As Deadline Approaches

As Thursday night turned to Friday morning without a vote, both Senate Majority Leader Thune and Minority Leader Schumer indicated additional procedural obstacles remained beyond Graham’s objection. Thune acknowledged that “snags on both sides” were preventing advancement under the unanimous consent process required to expedite passage.

“I hope we can get these issues resolved. Right now, we’ve got snags on both sides, but tomorrow’s another day.”

Schumer placed primary blame on Republicans for the delay while declining to specify whether any Democrats were also blocking the measure.

“Republicans need to get their act together.”

Sources familiar with the negotiations told reporters that multiple senators on both sides had raised concerns through the hotline process, where all 100 senators must agree not to object before legislation can move quickly through the chamber. Any single senator can force time-consuming procedural votes that could delay final passage into the weekend or beyond.

The Senate is scheduled to reconvene at 11 a.m. Friday to attempt reaching final agreement. Even if successful, House action would be delayed until at least Monday afternoon when members return to Washington, making a brief funding lapse unavoidable.

ICE Enforcement Tactics Drive Democratic Opposition

Democratic demands for ICE reforms gained momentum following not just Pretti’s death but also the earlier killing of Renee Good, a mother of three, by immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis earlier this month. Eyewitness accounts and video evidence in both cases contradicted initial Trump administration narratives that characterized the victims as violent threats to federal agents.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara noted that his department went the entire previous year without shooting anyone while recovering 900 guns from Minneapolis streets and arresting hundreds of violent offenders. He contrasted that record with federal agents’ three shootings in less than three weeks.

“The Minneapolis Police Department went the entire year last year recovering about 900 guns from the street, arresting hundreds and hundreds of violent offenders, and we didn’t shoot anyone.”

Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, an early advocate for blocking DHS funding, argued the issue resonates more personally with Americans than abstract border security debates.

“From a debate about a distant wall to your own neighborhood, your own backyard, the safety of your community — that’s a different scenario. Voters want and expect a fight.”

Several Republicans have also called for investigations into federal immigration tactics in Minnesota. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who faces a Trump-backed primary challenger, described the Pretti shooting as “incredibly disturbing” and said “the credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake.”

Will Graham’s objection force broader concessions from Democrats, or will pressure from shutdown-weary Republicans compel him to relent?

Sources

This report was compiled using information from The Hill’s reporting on the Senate funding deal, Fox News coverage of Graham’s objection, NBC News reporting on the Trump-Schumer agreement, CBS News coverage of the negotiations, NPR’s reporting on Democratic demands, ABC News coverage of the impasse, Roll Call’s reporting on procedural obstacles, The Hill’s coverage of the blocked package, PBS News reporting on the Alex Pretti shooting, and CBS Minnesota’s coverage of the Minneapolis incidents.

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