Washington appears to be heading toward another government shutdown, and this time the fight centers squarely on funding for the Department of Homeland Security under President Trump.
One of the key lawmakers who helped end the last shutdown is now refusing to support the current spending package, dramatically increasing the chances of a partial government closure by the end of the week.
Sen. Angus King said Sunday that he cannot back the six-bill funding deal because it includes money for DHS. King made the comments during a national television interview, signaling a major shift from his previous role as a shutdown deal-maker.
During the last funding crisis, King was one of only a small number of Democrats who sided with Republicans to reopen the government. This time, he says that won’t happen.
Democrats in the Senate have grown increasingly hostile toward border enforcement agencies following the death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse killed during a law enforcement incident in Minneapolis over the weekend. The incident has intensified calls from the left to restrict Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
Until recently, congressional Democrats had reluctantly agreed to support DHS funding despite long-standing objections to ICE. That fragile agreement collapsed after the weekend’s events.
“I hate shutdowns,” King said. “I helped negotiate the end of the last one. But under these circumstances, I can’t vote for a bill that includes ICE funding.”
King’s announcement came shortly after Chuck Schumer confirmed that Senate Democrats would block the legislation, making a shutdown by Friday increasingly likely.
The timing is notable. ICE has expanded enforcement operations into Maine as part of an initiative known as “Catch of the Day,” placing immigration enforcement front and center in a state preparing for a high-stakes Senate race.
Democratic Gov. Janet Mills is challenging Republican Susan Collins in a contest that could help decide control of the Senate—adding a political edge to the funding fight.
King claims there is an easy solution. He argues that John Thune could simply separate DHS funding from the remaining five spending bills and allow lawmakers to vote on them individually.
Even if that happens, the House of Representatives would still need to act. The House is not scheduled to return to Washington until next month, leaving little time to avoid a shutdown.
Without a last-minute deal, large portions of the federal government could begin shutting down as early as Friday.
“Let’s have an honest negotiation,” King said. “Put guardrails in place, demand accountability, and this can be resolved without a shutdown.”
For now, the standoff highlights growing resistance from Democrats to border enforcement funding—just as immigration, national security, and DHS operations remain top priorities for President Trump and millions of voters nationwide.