Spokespeople for Schumer, Jeffries: received DHS counteroffer

Spokespeople for Schumer, Jeffries: received DHS counteroffer

Democrats Submit Counteroffer in DHS Funding Negotiations Amid Ongoing Shutdown

Spokespeople for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) confirmed Monday that Congressional Democrats have submitted a counteroffer to the Trump administration and Republicans to reopen the partially shuttered Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The proposal comes as negotiations intensify over funding for the agency, which entered a partial shutdown after a two-week stopgap measure expired on February 17, 2026.

Democrats have conditioned their support for DHS funding on stricter oversight measures for immigration enforcement agents. Key demands include a ban on agents masking their faces during operations, mandatory body cameras, judicial warrants for immigration arrests, and an end to "roving patrols." These proposals aim to address public concerns following the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. The Trump administration has signaled its intention to scale back the Minneapolis operation but has resisted the Democratic push for systemic restrictions, particularly the mask ban and warrant requirements.

The White House previously issued its own counteroffer last week, which Democrats dismissed as insufficient. With the current impasse, essential DHS employees—such as those at the Transportation Security Administration, Coast Guard, and Federal Emergency Management Agency—continue working without pay, raising concerns about workforce stability. Meanwhile, immigration enforcement operations under Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) remain largely unaffected, as they were prioritized in the party-line "One Big Beautiful Bill" enacted in 2025.

Political analysts note that Democrats may be less inclined to compromise, citing shifting public sentiment. Recent polling indicates that a majority of Americans believe Trump's immigration policies have "gone too far," complicating Republican leverage in negotiations. The outcome of the standoff could influence broader fiscal policy discussions as the rest of the government remains funded through September 30, 2026.