Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has turned down President Donald Trump’s latest offer aimed at funding the Department of Homeland Security and restructuring immigration enforcement, increasing the likelihood of a federal government shutdown.
The proposal on the table included new funding levels for DHS through September, paired with changes to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations that the administration says would improve efficiency and accountability. Trump and his advisers had presented the plan as a compromise to break the stalemate in budget talks.
Schumer, however, refused to endorse the package, asserting that the immigration provisions were unacceptable and that broader protections for migrant families and asylum seekers were needed. His rejection came as negotiators from both parties have struggled for weeks to align on spending levels and policy riders across multiple federal agencies.
Without agreement, lawmakers now face a looming deadline to pass appropriations bills or a continuing resolution to keep the government open. If no deal is reached before that date, non-essential federal operations could shut down, furloughing hundreds of thousands of workers and disrupting services.
Republican leaders have urged Democrats to reconsider, stressing the importance of funding DHS to maintain public safety and border security. Democrats counter that any deal must include reforms that address humanitarian concerns and ensure fair treatment of immigrants.
As tensions persist on Capitol Hill, the impasse underscores deep partisan divisions over immigration policy and federal spending priorities heading into a critical point in the budget calendar.