Lawmakers remain at an impasse as a Senate funding measure collapses, extending the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Senate did not advance legislation to restore funding for the Department of Homeland Security on Friday, leaving the agency partially shuttered for a 35th day after the chamber failed to secure the votes needed to proceed.
The measure received 47 votes in favor and 37 against, falling short of the 60-vote requirement. The failed vote occurred amid attendance limitations and during a temporary pause in ongoing debate over the SAVE America Act, which has continued throughout the week and is expected to carry into the weekend.
The funding lapse has left Transportation Security Administration personnel working without pay during a period of heavy travel demand. Other DHS components—including the Coast Guard, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency—are also operating under the effects of the partial shutdown.
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to support reopening the department, maintaining a position he has held since the shutdown began. Other members of his party have continued to oppose funding efforts that do not include broader changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. Those two agencies remain funded under the previously enacted One Big, Beautiful Bill Act.
The current lapse in funding now stands as the second-longest shutdown in recent history, behind the 43-day disruption in 2025, which was previously described as record-breaking. That earlier standoff ended without agreement on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies, which had been a central point of contention.
Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota said the administration has put forward what he characterized as “serious offers” in response to Democratic demands and pointed to bipartisan talks involving Border Czar Tom Homan that began Thursday.
“[Homan] has a lot of credibility. He did a very good job in Minneapolis, St Paul, and obviously there’s been changes at DHS in the leadership,” Hoeven said. “If [Democrats] decide to walk away, they’re giving up really common sense things. And I think people see that, and with these TSA lines, I think that is putting more pressure than it has to come to the table.”
Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, who was not directly participating in the discussions, said negotiations remain stalled.
“It is clear to me that because of their politics and the people in charge of their party, the Democrats will never agree to to any reasonable changes with respect to ICE, because their their base will interpret any kind of agreement reasonable or otherwise as a vote to defund ICE,” Kennedy said Friday.
With no agreement reached, the shutdown continues to affect DHS operations as negotiations proceed without a defined timeline for resolution.
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