Democrats accuse Republicans of walking away from government shutdown talks

Democrats on Capitol Hill are accusing Republicans of walking away from attempts to reduce the scope of the partial government shutdown that began Feb. 14, arguing that the impasse over funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) need not delay funding for other agencies also tied to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

It’s a position that Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., believes his party has made clear on several occasions.

“We’re more than willing to fund FEMA, TSA, the Coast Guard and others. But while ICE continues to behave badly, we need to make sure there’s agreement on how they behave. And Republicans are holding the rest of DHS hostage,” Whitehouse said, listing other agencies also tied to DHS.

“It’s theirs,” he added.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI., speaks with reporters Nov. 14, 2025. (Pablo Porciuncula/AFP via Getty Images)

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Sen. John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, mocked what they see as Democratic calls to avoid the heart of the standoff.

“It’s extremely hypocritical because we’ve already funded ICE,” said Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, noting that the agency already received allocations under Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill last year.

“So the only thing they’re doing is harming the air traveling public through the TSA. They’re harming them and not accomplishing what they say they’re trying to accomplish. It’s shameful,” Cornyn said.

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Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., echoed Cornyn’s thinking, saying lawmakers should address DHS funding.

“All homeland security needs to be funded. We’re not going to pick and choose one part of it that’s not funded. It makes our country less secure,” he added.” Scott said.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said Senate Democrats won’t take the shutdown seriously until flight delays and cancellations start piling up. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

The expiration of DHS funding reached the one-month mark on Saturday, with no solution in sight to Democrats’ 10 demands for operational reform regarding any ICE funding.

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Among other things, Democrats are demanding a ban on masks for ICE agents, an end to roving patrols, stricter warrant requirements and visible identification markings. Their demands were made following the deaths of two civilians in Minnesota, who lost their lives in intensified clashes with immigration law enforcement.

Sen. Ed Markey, Democrat of Mass., said it was clearly up to the Trump administration to make such incidents more unlikely in the future.

“Trump has a responsibility to put safeguards in place around a corrupt agency that endangers everyone’s constitutional privileges,” Markey said.

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Without these requirements, Democrats say there is no way to continue defunding ICE.

Residents confront federal agents and Border Patrol agents over their presence in their neighborhood on Atlantic Blvd. in the Los Angeles suburb of Bell. California passed a law last year banning officials from wearing masks. (Getty Images)

“Frankly, we have a simple menu of fixes to ensure that ICE and CBP follow the same standards as state and local law enforcement. We come to an agreement that we can move forward,” Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., told Fox News Digital.

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Republicans argue the requirements would hamper President Donald Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown efforts.

Republicans cannot advance funding legislation in the Senate without help from at least seven Democrats. Republicans hold 53 seats in the House and need 60 votes to break the threat of a filibuster.