Senate Democrat Reveals Why Another Partial Shutdown is Inevitable

Senator John Fetterman expressed concerns on Sunday regarding the imminent threat of a partial government shutdown, emphasizing that bipartisan negotiations over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) remain stagnant.

During an appearance on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures, Fetterman was asked by host Maria Bartiromo about his support for a DHS funding package due at the week's end. His response was cautious, highlighting a list of reforms Democrats are advocating for in exchange for their votes.

“If I had to say now, they probably expect that there will be a shutdown because things are [...] committed to do that,” he remarked, indicating a lack of progress in the Senate.

Following Congress's passage of a two-week continuing resolution last week, the Senate initiated a countdown to resolve ongoing legislative disputes. Some Republican proposals have been outright rejected, such as mandates for ICE officers to remove masks, although there is some willingness to negotiate on other issues. Should Congress fail to meet the February 13 funding deadline, only DHS and its associated agencies would face funding disruptions, as their budget was separated from a broader spending package.

In a strategic move, Democrats in both chambers have outlined ten specific demands they wish to see included in any DHS funding legislation. Reports indicate that Senate Democrats have completed drafting the text for their proposed reforms.

Among the proposed changes for ICE are limitations on raid operations, prohibitions on enforcement near schools and sensitive areas, and established standards to prevent racial profiling. Some Republicans have dismissed these requests as merely a “wish list,” as noted by Fetterman.

Interestingly, even members of the previous administration acknowledged the need for a tactical shift in response to public outcry following the deaths of two Americans in Minneapolis during an ICE enforcement surge. Recently, the White House has replaced the regional ICE commander and announced plans to withdraw hundreds of agents from the area.

Fetterman acknowledged that Democrats are “certainly not going to get all 10” items on their reform agenda but admitted uncertainty regarding his party's non-negotiable points for DHS funding.

Historically, Fetterman has been less inclined than his peers to withhold support for government funding measures and has shown support for stricter immigration enforcement. He backed the Laken Riley Act in early 2025 and reiterated his stance on deporting immigrants with criminal records. He previously opposed efforts within his party to leverage funding votes against Republicans last year, which ultimately failed.

In contrast, some of his colleagues have been vocally critical of ICE operations, with calls for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's resignation. “The agency is being run by people who have no idea what they're doing and don't seem to give a s**t about the constitutional rights of the American people,” stated Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona.

To successfully pass a funding package that extends DHS operations beyond February 13, Senate Republicans will require support from at least four Democrats to overcome a filibuster, with Fetterman's vote likely being crucial. Senate Republican leader John Thune has suggested that DHS may need to rely on successive continuing resolutions while disagreements over ICE reforms are resolved.

“A two-week CR probably means there’s going to be another two-week CR and then maybe another two-week CR after that,” Thune commented, indicating the challenges ahead in reaching an agreement.