The interchamber tensions between Democrats are becoming a regular feature of funding fights in the second Trump term. Lawmakers, strategists and voters alike exploded in anger last March when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and a handful of colleagues allowed a spending package to move forward amid the Elon Musk-led DOGE assault on federal agencies. In November, tempers again flared when a handful of Senate Democrats joined with Republicans to end a record 43-day shutdown.
A group of around 10 Senate Democrats is coalescing around a list of demands for changes at DHS, including requiring warrants for arrests and mandating that federal agents identify themselves, multiple sources said. The group also wants to demand that DHS cooperate with state and local investigations into incidents like the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota.
Another deadly shooting in Minnesota at the hands of federal agents carrying out President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown heaped pressure on Senate Democrats to shut down the federal government again. Meanwhile, Trump appeared to inch closer to deploying active-duty troops to the state after accusing local officials of "inciting insurrection." A series of appropriations bills passed the House of Representatives earlier in the week, including one to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which includes agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol.
Senate Democrats are urging the Federal Communications Commission to enforce a rule that would lower the price of prison phone and video calls. In a letter led by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), several Democrats, including Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), among others, criticize FCC Chair Brendan Carr's efforts to "effectively gut" a final rule to implement a cap on exorbitant fees.
Zoom in: Schumer and top Democrats see Senate Majority Leader John Thune's (R-S.D.) decision not to pursue a "rifle shot" strategy as an opportunity to apply pressure on Republicans. After Thune's first three plans to open up all - or part - of the government failed, he suggested last week that he was open to "rifle shots" to fund parts of the government. But Republicans realized such bills would reduce their overall leverage, Axios reported on Monday.
Still, confusion reigned inside the Democratic caucus on what kind of package Thune (R-S.D.) would ultimately bring to the floor, making it difficult for Democrats to settle on a final strategy. They insisted they need to know whether Thune will bring a standalone defense bill to the floor - or if he'll pair it with other appropriations packages. "If we have to vote with no clarity about that, I would vote against proceeding to the House defense approps bill," Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), an appropriator, told Axios on Wednesday.
