In a surprising turn, Senate Democrats were able to strike a deal with President Donald Trump Thursday night to separate DHS funding from the broader appropriations package and fund it for two weeks while Congress debates ICE guardrails.
“Republicans and Democrats have come together to get the vast majority of the government funded until September,” Trump said in a social media post Thursday evening, encouraging members of both parties to cast a “much needed Bipartisan ‘YES’ vote.”
However, late Thursday, this plan ran into further snags. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina is one of the main objectors, opposing language which repealed a provision allowing senators to sue if their phone records were collected. This contentious “Arctic Frost” provision passed as part of the bill ending the government shutdown last year and was ultimately struck out of the final House bill.
The Senate reconvened this morning to try again to pass the funding measures. If it passes, it will then need to go back to the House, meaning at least a short funding lapse.
On the House side, Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters he had been “vehemently opposed” to breaking up the funding package, but “if it is broken up, we will have to move it as quickly as possible. We can’t have the government shut down.” He said he doesn’t expect any floor votes on the funding bill until Monday.
House Republicans have already made it clear they do not want changes to the bill they passed. Members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus wrote they stand with ICE in a letter to President Trump on Tuesday.
