Government Shutdown Looms as DHS Funding Battle Intensifies
Washington, D.C. – The possibility of a government shutdown loomed as the Senate prepared to vote on a $1.6 trillion funding bill, primarily concerning the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to NPR News on January 29, 2026. The dispute centered on President Donald Trump's aggressive crackdown on immigration, a policy that has drawn sharp criticism and threats of a shutdown from Democrats, Time reported.
Democrats appeared unified in their opposition to Trump's immigration policies, which include a "dragnet operation against immigrants," Time noted. Republicans, similarly, seemed united in their support of the President, even after federal agents killed two Americans in Minneapolis, according to Time. The White House has publicly dismissed the outrage over the immigration crackdown with indifference, Time reported.
The potential shutdown raised questions about its potential impact, with Time questioning whether "last year's record-breaking version [was] worth it?" The previous shutdown was tied to an end to subsidies for health insurance used by roughly 20 million Americans, Time reported.
Amidst the funding battle, Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota criticized President Trump's "hateful rhetoric" against her, suggesting it has made her a target for attacks, Time reported. "Every time the President of the United States has chosen to use hateful rhetoric to talk about me and the community that I represent, my death threats skyrocket," Omar said on Wednesday, according to Time. She added that she wouldn't need to pay for security if Trump wasn't in office and "so obsessed with me," Time reported. Omar also accused the right wing of using rhetoric as a tactic to stop her from being in public service, Time reported. "It's not going to work," she said, emphasizing that fear and intimidation would not deter her, according to Time.
The funding battle and potential shutdown occurred alongside other significant events, including a re-evaluation of the 1607 Bristol Channel flood, considering a tsunami as a possible cause, discussions of potential US military action against Iran with uncertain outcomes, and the Library of Congress's addition of 25 films to the National Film Registry, Time reported. TIME Studios also launched "On This Day 1776," a project about America's early years, according to Time.
The Senate vote on the DHS funding bill was expected to take place on January 29, 2026, according to NPR News. The outcome of the vote would determine whether the government would face another shutdown.
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