Funding bill fails to clear key Senate procedural vote
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) enters the U.S. Capitol on January 27, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Heather Diehl | Getty Images
The Senate on Thursday failed to clear a key procedural hurdle on a crucial government funding package, with the shutdown set to begin at 12:01 ET on Saturday.
Procedural votes on the six bills were expected to fail as Democrats demanded that the Republican majority remove funding for the Department of Homeland Security from the measure. Democrats are calling for new restrictions on federal immigration enforcement after agents shot and killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis this month.
The vote was 45-55, with seven Republicans also rigging the vote along with Democrats. Majority Leader John Thune (R.S.D.) voted no on reserving the motion for reconsideration. The vote raises the possibility of a government shutdown this week and will likely send Senate Republicans into negotiations with Democrats to find a solution.
In addition to Homeland Security, the failed package would also fund the departments of Defense, Treasury, State, Health and Human Services, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation and Education. Spending measures need at least 60 votes to avoid filibuster in the Senate.
“Democrats are ready to pass five bipartisan funding bills in the Senate,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (DY) said on the floor Thursday. he said. “We stand ready to fund 96% of the federal government today, but the DHS bill still needs a lot of work.”
Amending the bill, including repealing DHS, would require the House of Representatives to vote on the legislation again. The House is out of Washington on recess.
Republicans on Wednesday began opening the door to avert a shutdown by expressing their desire to repeal the DHS bill and continue negotiations while clearing the way for the rest of the package. Thune said Democrats are negotiating with the White House to find a path forward.
“Let’s hope it gets through,” Thune told reporters on Thursday.
“There is a way to consider some of these and negotiate between Republicans, Democrats, the House, the Senate and the White House, but that’s not going to happen in this bill,” Thune said.
— CNBC’s Karen Sloan and Caleigh Keating contributed to this report.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
