The U.S. Senate postponed a vote on a bipartisan funding agreement Thursday night following objections from Sen. Lindsey Graham, potentially leading to a partial government shutdown at midnight Friday. The deal, endorsed by President Trump, would fund most government operations until September while extending Department of Homeland Security funding for two weeks to negotiate immigration enforcement reforms. Graham opposed separating DHS funding and the repeal of a provision allowing senators to sue over phone record access.
Lawmakers in the Senate aimed to avert a partial government shutdown with a deal struck between Democrats and the White House. The agreement separates funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from five appropriation bills previously passed by the House, providing a two-week extension for negotiations on reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. President Trump endorsed the measure on Truth Social, stating it would fund the vast majority of the government until September, including an extension for DHS and the Coast Guard.
However, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) objected, leading to the cancellation of the expected vote Thursday night. Graham met with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to discuss concerns, including the House's repeal of a November provision that allowed senators to sue for damages if their phone records were accessed without knowledge—a measure added after revelations of FBI analysis of congressional Republicans' metadata in the January 6 investigation. "What senator wouldn’t want notification that they’re looking at your phone?" Graham said. He also opposed isolating DHS funding, arguing, "The cops need us right now. They’re being demonized. They’re being spat upon. They can’t sleep at night."
Democrats, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), pushed for strict reforms such as requiring body cameras, respect for constitutional rights, and accountability for ICE actions, including investigations into the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal agents in Minneapolis this month. Blumenthal warned that without these changes, he would vote to deny DHS funding, stating, "This kind of absolute lawlessness cannot be permitted in America." He noted two weeks as sufficient time for Republicans to agree, though a contradiction emerged: while border czar Tom Homan plans to pull some immigration agents from Minnesota for safer operations, the president has said there are no such plans.
Thune expressed hope for a vote Friday, saying, "Tomorrow’s another day, and hopefully people will be in a spirit to try and get this done." The House remains in recess until early next week, raising risks of a short-term shutdown, though effects could be minimized over the weekend when most federal offices are closed.
