As the clock ticks down to the second government shutdown in three months, there are now signs that Senate Republicans are going to crumble, agreeing to strip a bill funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from a larger package in what would be a major surrender to Democrats.
Even though Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said he is against separating the bills to appease Democrats who are using outrage over the shooting of left-wing agitator Alex Pretti as leverage, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) acknowledged that “a bunch” of Republicans are willing to bow to the minority party’s demands by setting aside DHS funding to move the other bills funding Defense and other government agencies for the rest of the fiscal year.
“Sen. Thune can’t admit it because he’s got to act like a tough guy and the White House is negotiating, and all of that, but most of you have been around here for a while, and most of us have seen this vampire movie before,” Kennedy told reporters on Wednesday, according to The Hill.
“I think the Democrats don’t want to vote for a Homeland Security bill,” he said. “If that’s the case, then what are our choices? To throw out all the bills? Or one?”
“I think a rational person would say let’s pass what we can and work on the others,” added Kennedy, a conservative favorite for his endless series of homespun quips.
So all the appropriations bills were full of Democrat pork and Democrat spending programs because that was the price for Democrats passing the DHS bill.
Democrats renege on the deal, but the GOP is letting Dems keep all their BS in the other bills.
Fake opposition party. https://t.co/NMOwqsu2bU
— Oilfield Rando (@Oilfield_Rando) January 28, 2026
The Hill also quotes an unnamed “senior Republican senator” who all but ran up the white flag of surrender by saying even if GOP senators prefer to keep the bills together, they would “probably agree” to separate DHS funding if Democrats “dig in their heels,” something that the anonymous lawmaker just invited them to do.
“If that was all that was left, we’d probably do it,” the senator said, noting that Thune “hasn’t ruled out” the capitulation to Democrats.
“Those all are all potential [options], I mean, these are all hypothetical at this point. I would reserve optionality to consider that,” Sen. Thune said, according to the outlet, which notes that he prefers to keep the six bills together.
“But I think the best path forward, as I’ve said, is to keep the package intact. If there are things the Democrats want that the administration can agree with them about, then let’s do that,” the majority leader said.
Surrendering to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) would further embolden Democrats and their hostage taking and add to the demoralization of the Republican base in an election year. Unfortunately, the idea may have a very important supporter: President Donald J. Trump.
Trump and Schumer Move Toward Possible Deal to Avert a Shutdown. — NYT pic.twitter.com/ne06RWwkAr
— NewsWire (@NewsWire_US) January 29, 2026
The New York Times is reporting that Trump and Schumer are working toward a deal that will split out the DHS funding bill while allowing the other bills from the six-bill package to pass, avoiding a second “Schumer shutdown.”
The paper reported that the two “moved on Wednesday night toward a possible agreement to negotiate new restrictions on federal immigration agents, potentially averting a government shutdown early Saturday when funding for multiple federal agencies is slated to lapse.”
According to the Times, under the reported plan, the Senate would split the DHS bill out from the six-bill package. “The Senate would pass those bills before a Friday midnight deadline, and Congress also would consider a short-term extension for homeland security operations, which would prevent an interruption of services by the Transportation Security Agency, Coast Guard, and Federal Emergency Management Agency.”
“That stopgap bill would provide time for talks between lawmakers and the White House to draft a new homeland security spending bill that would include new restrictions that Democrats have demanded on the tactics of immigration enforcement officers and more accountability for those accused of using excessive force,” the Times reported, citing the standard anonymous sources in “two officials knowledgeable about it.”
“I think right now the conversation should be between the White House and Democrats,” Thune told reporters on Wednesday.
“It appears that the White House and the Senate are making good progress to avoid a shutdown,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), according to the Times.
A last-minute deal would avert another shutdown but will deliver a huge win to Democrats, who are guaranteed to drag out DHS funding until ICE and deportation operations are crippled using their typical bad-faith negotiating tactics, which unfortunately, seem to be working.
- New York Dems hoist ‘Pride’ flag at iconic Stonewall Monument in defiance of Trump admin - February 13, 2026
- Karoline Leavitt lights up hypocrite Obama for spreading panic about voter ID - February 13, 2026
- Nancy Mace confirms DOJ is monitoring ‘ALL DOCUMENTS members of Congress search’ - February 12, 2026
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.