Schumer pushes new DHS funding plan, Thune rejects it, citing ‘moving goalposts’
WASHINGTON, DC: Negotiations over funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continued in the Senate, with top lawmakers from both parties offering contrasting accounts of progress.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats had submitted a new counterproposal aimed at advancing talks, while Senate Majority Leader John Thune accused Democrats of repeatedly changing their demands.
The exchange reflects ongoing disagreements over immigration enforcement policies and funding priorities. Lawmakers have indicated that discussions remain active as pressure grows to resolve the impasse.
Schumer says Democrats file DHS counterproposal
Speaking on the Senate floor, Schumer said Democrats had sent Republicans a revised offer earlier in the day that would fund DHS while introducing reforms to immigration enforcement operations.
He described the proposal as one that would “fund DHS while at the same time rein in ICE with commonsense guardrails.”
“Our offer is a reasonable, good-faith proposal that contains some of the very same asks Democrats have been talking about now for months,” Schumer said, emphasizing that the party’s position has remained consistent throughout negotiations.
He added that discussions with Hakeem Jeffries had reinforced the need for what he described as “strong reforms.”
Schumer rejected Republican claims that Democrats were shifting their negotiating position, calling such assertions an “outrageous and bad-faith claim” and “nonsense.”
According to the minority leader, Democrats have been clear about their requirements from the outset and remain prepared to continue discussions without delay.
He also underscored the urgency of reaching an agreement, stating that “Time is of the essence,” and reiterated that Democrats are ready to engage “at a moment’s notice.” “We will not walk away,” he added, signaling continued willingness to negotiate despite the ongoing disagreements.
Thune rejects counteroffer, says GOP ‘accommodating’
Thune said Republicans had made significant efforts to meet Democratic demands but faced shifting expectations during the negotiation process. He said the GOP had been “as accommodating as I think you possibly can.”
“I don't know how you get to a solution where they keep moving the goalposts and where, when you hit a target that they said would be acceptable, they walk away from it,” Thune said. “That's happened multiple times, including most recently over the weekend.”
Thune also dismissed the offer as insufficient, telling reporters it was “not even close to being real.”
He said Democrats were repeating demands that had already been rejected, adding, “They know better. They're asking for things that have already been turned down, so it just seems like they're going in circles.”
Thune said the proposal included nine new demands, some of which he described as “nonstarters,” particularly provisions related to mask requirements and judicial warrants for agents, which he said have “never been on the table.” “This is another example of the Democrats not being serious,” he added.
