Senators Move Toward Spending Deal With DHS Stopgap Proposal (1)

Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) filed an amendment to a pending government funding package that would provide money to the Department of Homeland Security for the next two weeks.

Senators have agreed to separate out the DHS portion of a six-bill bipartisan funding package (H.R. 7148) and replace it with the two-week stopgap, according to Ally Biasotti, a spokesperson for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

Collins’ amendment, if adopted and enacted, would give lawmakers time to negotiate full-year funding for the agency as Democrats demand restraints on immigration enforcement officials in the wake of shootings by officers in Minnesota. Lawmakers have been racing to reach a deal before a Jan. 30 deadline.

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) cautioned leadership was still circulating the idea of a short-term extension of DHS funding with senators, who would need to unanimously agree to move forward before tomorrow’s shutdown deadline.

President Donald Trump endorsed the deal in a Truth Social post, saying “Hopefully, both Republicans and Democrats will give a very much needed Bipartisan “YES” Vote.”

It’s unclear if the House will return from recess soon enough to clear any Senate deal to avoid a shutdown. The Office of Management and Budget will direct agencies to begin orderly shutdown activities once funding lapses Friday night, an OMB spokesperson said Thursday.