DHS Agents in Charlotte, N.C., on a mission. (Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
While employees in the Legislative Branch, the Justice Department, Department of the Interior and more can expect to continue receiving paychecks, the Defense bill's failure still threatens the paychecks of service members.
"Too often, our hardworking men and women — particularly those in the Armed Forces — have had their livelihoods held hostage by political shenanigans in the Congress because of disagreements on unrelated issues," Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn., a member of the Armed Services Committee, said Thursday.
His thoughts were echoed by Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., another committee member.
"Our service members have already endured a Schumer-manufactured government shutdown and should not be put through another one," Scott said.
Like in the last shutdown, the funding gridlock also threatens airport employees who work for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), included as a part of the DHS package. In October, several weeks without paychecks forced flight delays and cancellations as employees needed to ensure flight safety — like air traffic controllers — began looking for side jobs and alternative sources of revenue.
Repeated travel delays are of special concern to Rep. Nick Begich, R-Alaska, who said his constituents could be especially hurt in a season when the state depends especially on imports.
Federal agents arrest a person along Lake Street on Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (Joshua Lott/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The four-bill spending package fell flat in the Senate on Thursday when Senate Democrats and seven Senate Republicans derailed a procedural vote needed to advance it.
Lawmakers remain divided over the DHS portion of the package.
The legislation comes without key demands Democrats made regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an agency that operates under DHS.
KEY SENATOR WON'T FUND DHS AS ICE, FEDERAL AGENTS ENTER HIS STATE
In the wake of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti earlier this month — the second deadly clash between immigration authorities and civilians in January — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Democrats have said their support is conditional on tightening ICE’s warrant requirements, ending roving patrols, requiring ICE to partner with state and local law enforcement, a uniform code of conduct, a no mask policy, and body camera requirement.
Senate Republicans are currently working through roadblocks built within their ranks. A handful in the Senate GOP are frustrated by the nature of the compromise deal struck by Trump and Schumer, the billions in earmarks attached to the original package, and the repeal of a provision that allows senators to sue for $500,000 who had their phone records subpoenaed by former Special Counsel Jack Smith as part of his Arctic Frost probe.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., hold a joint news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 8, 2026. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
The upper chamber is hoping to complete its work on the new package Friday evening and send the modified bundle to the House.
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DesJarlais said he believes Democrats can continue pressing for changes they want to see without putting parts of the government at risk.
"It should stop," DesJarlais said of the political gridlock. "There are plenty of other ways for Democrats to achieve their policy goals rather than engage in tactics simply designed to post something on their social media profiles."
Leo Briceno is a politics reporter for the congressional team at Fox News Digital. He was previously a reporter with World Magazine.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/looming-government-shutdown-threatens-service-members-fema-tsa-amid-ice-impasse