Stillstand before Midnight - Democrats Set Conditions, Republicans Push Back, Homeland Security Faces Shutdown

Five days before stopgap funding for the Department of Homeland Security expires, Washington once again faces a standstill. Democrats are tying their approval of a new spending bill to clear conditions: visible identification for officers, no masking during raids, judicial warrants when entering private property. After the fatal operations in Minnesota in which two American citizens were killed, a “fundamental change of course” in the conduct of federal agents is necessary, said House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. Republicans, he said, have not responded. “The ball is now in the Republicans’ court,” he stated.

Republican leadership has rejected the demands. New restrictions would endanger the safety of agents and hinder the enforcement of immigration laws, they argue. Senator Bill Hagerty said ICE agents must not be “put in harm’s way.” Grim forecasts are also coming from the Senate. Democratic Senator John Fetterman said he expects a shutdown rather than a deal before Friday’s deadline. Without a resolution, the Department of Homeland Security would formally close on Saturday, even though essential services would continue operating in some capacity - but without pay for many employees.

Among those affected would be the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Coast Guard, the Secret Service and the Transportation Security Administration. Some Democrats have floated the idea of funding those agencies separately while negotiations over limits on ICE continue. Whether the necessary votes in the Senate can be secured remains uncertain. A new stopgap measure would require support from several Democratic senators.

At the same time, another issue continues to provoke outrage. President Trump has refused to apologize for a racist video he posted on social media that portrayed the Obamas as apes. The clip was deleted after widespread criticism. Jeffries described the post as “malignant” and called for a clear apology. In addition, a whistle-blower report concerning an intercepted communication between two foreign nationals has raised further questions. Distribution of that information to intelligence agencies had previously been blocked. Lawmakers are demanding answers here as well. In the capital, the budget fight, police violence, the racism debate and questions of intelligence oversight are colliding. The deadline is approaching. A deal is not in sight. If no agreement is reached, it will not only be a department that shuts down, but once again public confidence in the government’s ability to function will be shaken.