WASHINGTON--Eight Senate Republicans joined all Democrats on Thursday to block a sweeping six-bill government funding package, heightening the risk of a partial federal shutdown as lawmakers race to negotiate a last-minute offramp, POLITICO reported.
The Senate voted 55–45 against advancing the package, which would fund more than 75% of federal discretionary spending, including the Departments of Homeland Security, Defense, State, and Health and Human Services. Without a deal, affected agencies will begin shutting down at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, disrupting a broad swath of federal operations .
The vote followed renewed political fallout from the recent killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen in Minneapolis, during an immigration enforcement operation involving federal agents. The incident has intensified scrutiny of the administration’s immigration policies and sparked demands from Democrats for new restrictions and oversight of ICE and DHS operations.
Democratic leaders now say they will block any funding measure that includes DHS unless Republicans agree to legislative guardrails on immigration enforcement, including conduct standards, accountability measures, and operational limits. Republicans have resisted separating DHS from the broader spending package, arguing that reopening negotiations risks delaying funding for critical national security and health programs, POLITICO noted.
With the House already out of session after passing the bills, the Senate stalemate has sharply increased the odds of a shutdown — even as both parties publicly signal interest in a narrow compromise. Whether lawmakers can strike a deal before the weekend will determine if much of the federal government goes dark once again.
“Once again, Washington is sleepwalking toward a government shutdown because Congress cannot execute its most basic responsibility—funding the government. While political brinkmanship continues, the consequences are very real for servicemembers, Coast Guard personnel, federal employees, and the families who depend on predictable paychecks to meet everyday obligations," stated Defense Credit Union Council Chief Advocacy Officer Jason Stverak. "Defense credit unions have proven time and again they will step up in a crisis, but they should not be forced to serve as a backstop for congressional dysfunction. Lawmakers must put politics aside and pass funding legislation immediately. Our nation’s military families should never be collateral damage in budget negotiations.”
America's Credit Unions expressed concern over lawmakers' brinksmanship.
“Congress edging toward another government shutdown is deeply concerning for the millions of Americans who rely on steady federal operations and predictable paychecks to manage their finances," said ACU President and CEO Scott Simpson. "Shutdowns create unnecessary disruption for federal employees, contractors, and the communities they serve, while injecting avoidable uncertainty into an already challenging economic environment. Credit unions are prepared to support their members through periods of instability, but prolonged uncertainty is avoidable and unnecessary. Lawmakers should work quickly to reach an agreement that keeps the government funded and operating.”