DHS shutdown funding framework emerges after weeks of negotiations

After weeks of negotiations, an emerging proposal to fund most of DHS while tackling ICE enforcement funding separately faces rejection from both Democrats and Trump.

Objective Facts

After weeks of start and stop negotiations between Congressional Democrats and the White House, there's an emerging proposal to fund the majority of DHS and tackle ICE enforcement funding separately. A group of Senate Republicans met with Trump at the White House Monday and came out with a compromise proposal: funding for 94% of DHS, except for the enforcement and removal arm of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Democrats say the latest framework does not include other demands, like requiring judicial warrants for immigration agents to enter homes and businesses and a ban on face coverings for agents. Despite optimism from top Senate Republicans, President Trump and Senate Democrats have yet to embrace the emerging framework. Trump said "They need to end the shutdown immediately, or we'll have to take some very drastic measures."

Left-Leaning Perspective

Senate Democrats announced a counteroffer, stating it "contains some of the very same asks Democrats have been talking about" and asking for policy changes dealing with officer identification, mask-wearing, judicial warrants, funding for body-worn cameras, training standards and protections of schools, churches and other sensitive locations. Senate Democrats say they do not want to give ICE any funding until the White House agrees to more sweeping changes to how officers operate. Rep. Pramila Jayapal told reporters "We want actual reforms to the way ICE operates, and CBP also. That's the whole point. We don't want ICE and CBP murdering people on our streets and bashing down doors." Democrats note that ICE officers are being paid despite the shutdown because ICE has access to $75 billion in separate funds from Congress last summer as part of Republicans' massive tax and spending bill. One senior House Democratic aide suggested that "This can't go on much longer and not have the American people begin to also blame Democrats." Democrats have conditioned their support for DHS funding on a ban on masks for ICE agents, stiffer warrant requirements for apprehending suspects in public and a ban on roaming patrols, among other changes. Democrats present their demands as non-negotiable necessities tied to preventing violence, explicitly linking ICE operations to the Minneapolis shootings. They frame their position as defending vulnerable communities and enforcing constitutional protections. However, they omit discussion of how repeatedly changing their specific reform list may appear to validate Republican claims of moving goalposts.

Right-Leaning Perspective

Republicans argue Democrats have moved the goalposts, with Sen. John Hoeven saying Democrats should "quit moving around" on DHS funding, while Thune touted the GOP proposal which includes a second legislative package to fund ICE and pass the SAVE America Act through reconciliation. Sen. Rick Scott, a Trump ally, said he didn't understand why Republicans are cutting a huge chunk of ICE's budget, asking "Why would you just fund a part of government, especially when they don't want to fund the part that protects Americans from illegal aliens that are committing crimes?" President Trump urged Republicans not to make a deal with Democrats, while putting focus on passing the SAVE America Act, but senators left a White House meeting indicating he backed a path forward including using reconciliation to pass ICE funding and portions of the SAVE America Act. House Speaker Mike Johnson declared "The Democrat's DHS shutdown strategy is clear: Block paychecks for TSA officers and force Americans to wait in lines at airports across the country — while letting criminal illegal aliens skip the line to enter the country. It's madness." Republicans express skepticism about making up ICE funding shortfalls through reconciliation, with Sen. Scott dismissing it as "a pipe dream." Republicans frame the GOP proposal as a reasonable compromise and portray Democrats as obstructing critical national security funding. They link Democratic demands to airport chaos while omitting discussion of Trump's repeated rejection of compromise proposals and his demands to link DHS funding to the SAVE America Act.

Deep Dive

The DHS shutdown now extends into its sixth week, with wait times at airports reaching the highest in TSA history, with some exceeding four and a half hours, and TSA having lost more than 480 officers. The core conflict centers on whether Democrats can negotiate ICE operational reforms while refusing to fund ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Republicans counter that without funding, no reforms are on the table. Democrats argue that ICE already has substantial existing funds from last year's spending bill, making partial funding sufficient for operations. The Republican proposal (94% of DHS without ICE enforcement operations) appears substantively similar to what Democrats originally proposed, yet both sides claim bad faith. Trump initially rejected this framework Sunday, but reversed position Monday after a White House meeting with GOP senators, endorsing a plan using reconciliation for ICE funding and SAVE America Act components. However, some GOP senators, including Mike Lee who championed the SAVE America Act, called the reconciliation strategy "essentially impossible," revealing internal Republican divisions. By Thursday, Thune declared he had given Democrats Republicans' "last and final offer." The SAVE America Act serves as both a practical obstacle and political pressure point. Trump has demanded Democrats back the legislation, which is a nonstarter for Democrats. Trump floated ending the Senate filibuster entirely, asking "When is 'enough, enough' for our Republican Senators" and urging the Senate to "TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER," though Thune has repeatedly said there isn't support for ending the filibuster within the GOP conference. The shutdown's leverage is significant: both parties face recess obligations and escalating political costs, yet neither side has clearly ceded ground, suggesting the standoff could extend beyond the scheduled recess beginning Friday.

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DHS shutdown funding framework emerges after weeks of negotiations

After weeks of negotiations, an emerging proposal to fund most of DHS while tackling ICE enforcement funding separately faces rejection from both Democrats and Trump.

Mar 26, 2026
What's Going On

After weeks of start and stop negotiations between Congressional Democrats and the White House, there's an emerging proposal to fund the majority of DHS and tackle ICE enforcement funding separately. A group of Senate Republicans met with Trump at the White House Monday and came out with a compromise proposal: funding for 94% of DHS, except for the enforcement and removal arm of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Democrats say the latest framework does not include other demands, like requiring judicial warrants for immigration agents to enter homes and businesses and a ban on face coverings for agents. Despite optimism from top Senate Republicans, President Trump and Senate Democrats have yet to embrace the emerging framework. Trump said "They need to end the shutdown immediately, or we'll have to take some very drastic measures."

Left says: Senate Democrats say "We have to rein in ICE and stop the violence. We need reform." Democrats are asking for policy changes dealing with officer identification, mask-wearing, judicial warrants, funding for body-worn cameras, training standards and protections of schools, churches and other sensitive locations from being the target of immigration enforcement activity.
Right says: Senate Majority Leader John Thune said of Democrats' counteroffer, "It's not even close to being real. They know better. They're asking for things that have already been turned down." A White House official said "It's laughable that Democrats are now demanding more reforms to an agency they still refuse to fund" and "This latest stunt from the Democrats proves they are not interested in a serious conversation."
✓ Common Ground
Both sides acknowledge the GOP proposal includes some ICE reforms that Democrats negotiated earlier, like funding for officer-worn body cameras and reduced detention-center bed capacity, which were included in the House-passed DHS funding bill.
There appears to be shared concern about the TSA crisis, with both sides acknowledging the urgency as TSA has lost more than 480 officers and some airports face 40-50% callout rates, creating wait times greater than four and a half hours.
Both Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have indicated they are engaged in serious negotiations, with Thune saying "I hope so" when asked about a solution and Schumer noting "Both sides are talking in a serious way."
Some members across both parties have expressed openness to TSA-only funding as an interim measure, with Sen. John Kennedy proposing a TSA-only bill and Sen. Chris Coons noting general agreement on funding TSA, while Sen. Chris Murphy said "We've been offering that on the floor every day. So of course we would fund TSA alone."
Objective Deep Dive

The DHS shutdown now extends into its sixth week, with wait times at airports reaching the highest in TSA history, with some exceeding four and a half hours, and TSA having lost more than 480 officers. The core conflict centers on whether Democrats can negotiate ICE operational reforms while refusing to fund ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Republicans counter that without funding, no reforms are on the table. Democrats argue that ICE already has substantial existing funds from last year's spending bill, making partial funding sufficient for operations.

The Republican proposal (94% of DHS without ICE enforcement operations) appears substantively similar to what Democrats originally proposed, yet both sides claim bad faith. Trump initially rejected this framework Sunday, but reversed position Monday after a White House meeting with GOP senators, endorsing a plan using reconciliation for ICE funding and SAVE America Act components. However, some GOP senators, including Mike Lee who championed the SAVE America Act, called the reconciliation strategy "essentially impossible," revealing internal Republican divisions. By Thursday, Thune declared he had given Democrats Republicans' "last and final offer."

The SAVE America Act serves as both a practical obstacle and political pressure point. Trump has demanded Democrats back the legislation, which is a nonstarter for Democrats. Trump floated ending the Senate filibuster entirely, asking "When is 'enough, enough' for our Republican Senators" and urging the Senate to "TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER," though Thune has repeatedly said there isn't support for ending the filibuster within the GOP conference. The shutdown's leverage is significant: both parties face recess obligations and escalating political costs, yet neither side has clearly ceded ground, suggesting the standoff could extend beyond the scheduled recess beginning Friday.

◈ Tone Comparison

Democrats employ moral and constitutional framing—"stop the violence," "rein in ICE," "murdering people"—emphasizing protection of communities, while Republicans use market-based accountability language—"moving goalposts," "not being serious," "blackmail"—positioning themselves as negotiating with an unreasonable partner. Democrats describe demands as longstanding principles; Republicans describe them as shifting conditions.

✕ Key Disagreements
Whether ICE reforms can be demanded without funding the agency
Left: Democrats argue they can demand reforms alongside not fully funding ICE, stating "We've been talking about ICE reforms from day one. These are not new demands" and seeking policy changes on officer identification, mask-wearing, judicial warrants, body cameras, training standards and protection of sensitive locations.
Right: Republicans argue that reforms are contingent on funding, with Thune saying "a lot of the reforms are contingent on funding for ICE" and "If you're not going to have funding, I don't know how all of a sudden now you can demand reforms."
Trump's role and demands regarding the SAVE America Act
Left: Democrats criticize Trump for making the shutdown harder by not stopping "making new and unreasonable demands over social media" and for demanding that Republicans link DHS funding with the SAVE America Act, an elections overhaul bill.
Right: Republicans, while some support Trump's position, acknowledge the political reality that Trump urged Republicans not to make a deal with Democrats while putting focus on passing the SAVE America Act, and announced they will pursue a second budget reconciliation bill for ICE funding and portions of the elections bill.
Feasibility of using reconciliation to pass the SAVE America Act
Left: Democrats implicitly challenge the GOP reconciliation strategy, noting that reconciliation provisions need to have a budgetary impact and the Senate parliamentarian's rulings are usually the final word on reconciliation.
Right: Some conservatives like Sen. Mike Lee acknowledge difficulty, posting "It's hard to imagine how the SAVE America Act could be passed through reconciliation," while the House Freedom Caucus posted "PASS THE SAVE AMERICA ACT NOW," questioning the strategy and citing "arcane rules."
Whether Democrats are moving goalposts or maintaining consistent demands
Left: Democrats claim "Our offer is a reasonable, good-faith proposal that contains some of the very same asks Democrats have been talking about now for months" and reject Republican claims of moving goalposts as "outrageous and bad-faith," saying Democrats "have been clear from the beginning about what they need to move forward."
Right: Republicans argue "We literally offered what they asked for three days ago and then suddenly it's like, oh no, now we got new stuff. This has been the story of the entire time... This has been the constant journey — one more thing, one more thing, one more thing."