ICE reshapes the fight to avoid another government shutdown

"A "budget without any constraints on DHS isn't likely to get a lot of Democratic votes," Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said Thursday. At least six or seven Dems will have to cross the aisle to avoid a shutdown. Both Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have dismissed the idea of another shutdown after last fall's record-breaker."

"Zoom in: Congress cleared the halfway point on appropriations bills Thursday after funding Commerce, Justice, Energy and the Interior, as well as NASA and the EPA. Funding agencies is Congress' most basic job, and GOP leaders have been adamant about passing more regular appropriations bills. Thune and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) both said a spending stopgap is the likely endgame to avoid a DHS shutdown, Semafor reports."

A budget without constraints on DHS is unlikely to secure significant Democratic support, according to Sen. Chris Murphy. At least six or seven Democrats would need to join Republicans to avoid a DHS funding lapse. Both Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have dismissed the prospect of another shutdown. Congress has advanced roughly half of the appropriations bills, funding Commerce, Justice, Energy, Interior, NASA, and the EPA. GOP leaders are pushing for more regular appropriations. Thune and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen indicated a stopgap is likely to prevent a DHS shutdown. Murphy said a stopgap does not resolve underlying problems, while Schumer maintains a shutdown is off the table; a lapse in DHS funding would constitute a partial government shutdown.

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