Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) sharply rebuked fellow Senate Democrats after becoming the lone member of his party to side with Republicans in voting to fund the Department of Homeland Security.
In a fiery statement, Fetterman warned that Democrats were choosing party loyalty over the country’s security.
The standoff erupted as Senate Democrats refused to support funding for DHS in pursuit of sweeping restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The pushback from Democrats follows the fatal shootings of anti-ICE agitators Alex Pretti and Renee Good during immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota.
Fetterman argued the shutdown strategy was misguided.
The senator notes that it would do nothing to achieve the reforms Democrats claim to seek.
“This shutdown literally has zero impact on ICE functionality,” Fetterman wrote on X.
“Country over party is refusing to hit the entire Department of Homeland Security.
“Democracy demands a way forward to reform ICE without damaging our critical national security agencies.”
This shutdown literally has zero impact on ICE functionality.
Country over party is refusing to hit the entire Department of Homeland Security.
Democracy demands a way forward to reform ICE without damaging our critical national security agencies.
— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) February 13, 2026
Democrats Force Partial Shutdown With Hardline Stance
Senate Democrats’ refusal to fund DHS has made a partial government shutdown affecting the agency all but inevitable.
The funding deadline arrives at midnight Friday.
However, there is little indication of a last-minute agreement.
Compounding the impasse, lawmakers quickly left Washington on Thursday.
Many senators have been departing for the Munich Security Conference in Germany rather than remaining to finalize a deal.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Democrat allies argued Republicans and the White House had not offered sufficient concessions on ICE or Customs and Border Protection reforms.
Democrats maintained the GOP proposal failed to meet their demands, justifying their refusal to advance funding.
Shutdown Won’t Stop ICE Operations
Despite Democrat claims, the shutdown is unlikely to meaningfully impact immigration enforcement.
Congressional Republicans previously secured roughly $75 billion in ICE funding through President Donald Trump’s landmark spending legislation.
The package ensures that immigration operations remain financed for years regardless of the current standoff.
Instead, the shutdown’s consequences would fall on other DHS components, including:
• The Transportation Security Administration
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency
• The U.S. Coast Guard
• Additional homeland security functions unrelated to immigration enforcement
Fetterman’s warning underscored that Democrats’ strategy risks weakening core national security operations while leaving ICE largely untouched.
Negotiations Continue as Reopening Vote Delayed
Behind the scenes, negotiations are expected to continue, with Senate Democrats signaling they may present a counteroffer to the White House.
Even so, any vote to reopen and fully fund DHS is unlikely before early next week at the soonest, prolonging a shutdown confrontation driven by Democrat demands over immigration enforcement rather than immediate national security needs.
Fetterman’s break with his party highlights growing divisions among Democrats as President Trump’s immigration agenda and border enforcement priorities continue to dominate Washington’s political battle lines.
READ MORE – Democrat Rep Steve Cohen: American Citizens Are ‘Worst of the Worst,’ Not Illegal Aliens
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