Adam Schiff says Republicans rejected his offer to fund FEMA separately

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., claimed he offers Republicans a chance to save the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from the ongoing government shutdown that is expected to reach the one-month mark on Saturday, following another failed DHS vote on Thursday.

Republicans believe the proposal is little more than political theater that ignores the essence of the funding logjam as concerns grow about Iran’s sleeper cell threats and airport chaos.

“I proposed a UC to fund FEMA, and Republicans rejected it,” Schiff said, referring to the Senate’s process of instantly passing legislation known as “unanimous consent.”

Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala), a lawmaker who has blocked UC closures in the past, blasted Democrats for trying to game negotiations over what she sees as larger DHS disputes.

Senate TO HOLD TEST VOTE TO END 27-DAY DHS Shutdown

“We want this opportunity to continue to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security. Look, the people who sent us here expect more,” Britt said on the Senate floor.

“They expect us to have tough conversations. They expect us to find a path forward. That’s exactly what we’re trying to do today.”

Furious Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) accused Senate Democrats of trying to break up the agency as soon as it was designed because the war in Iran spurred the threat of retaliation by sleeper cells in the United States.

“And this at a time when our homeland is under attack, all the warning lights are flashing red, and they want to tear apart, piece by piece, the Department of Homeland Security, the overarching body of our government that protects the American people, because they want to side with illegal immigrant criminals,” Barrasso said.

Schumer announced that Senate Democrats will continue to provide piecemeal funding bills to reopen certain parts of the agency, such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), while negotiations continue.

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security ended on February 14 due to a series of demands put forward by Democrats regarding operational reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); Republicans believe it will clamp down on President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigrants.

FEMA was scheduled to receive $32 billion in 2026. Senate Appropriations Committee.

Democrats demanded a no-mask policy, an end to patrols, stricter warrant requirements for detentions and clearly visible identification for ICE agents, among other items.

THE CLOSURE OF DHS CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND WEEK AS THE IRAN THREAT AND THE SOTU CONFLICT COMPLEX THE HILL TALK

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Wednesday, January 20, 2026, that “a criminal illegal alien armed his vehicle with a gun and rammed law enforcement officers” in Compton, California, in a “dangerous attempt to evade arrest.” An illegal criminal alien allegedly ran into law enforcement during a California operation. (KTTV)

Although talks continue, lawmakers said serious disagreements remain.

Like ICE, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) operates under DHS, along with other agencies such as the Coast Guard, Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed concern that unrelated ICE reforms demanded by Democrats threaten the nation’s preparedness to respond to natural disasters.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., hinted that Democrats want to eliminate that possibility.

“We just asked UC to handle it…so,” Cantwell said of the DHS funding dispute.

TSA WORKERS ARE PREPARED TO BE PAID FOR MISSED WAGES AS DEMOCRATS ARE PATIENT WITH DHS FUNDS

FEMA appears to be preparing for a winter storm that will impact much of the United States in early 2026, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said. (DHS photo: Tia Dufour)

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DHS workers missed their first paycheck this week, according to Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Katie Britt, R-Ala. Additionally, FEMA reserve funding fell to $4 billion, the primary account used to coordinate disaster response and recovery efforts.

Fox News Digital’s Alex Miller contributed to this report.