Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., declined to specify how long Democrats intend to withhold support for funding the Department of Homeland Security when approached by reporters in the Senate basement this week.
The questions came amid a series of suspected domestic terror attacks that have raised concerns about the country's preparedness to counter security threats. Fox News Digital asked Schumer directly whether it was time to fund DHS after four suspected terror attacks and what the next step would be if Republicans did not agree to Democratic ICE reform demands.
Schumer responded by directing questions to Republicans, offering no timeline for when Democrats might support funding the department.
What the Left Is Saying
Democrats have tied their support for DHS funding to a set of demands to reform Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Among their conditions are a ban on masks for ICE agents, stiffer warrant requirements for apprehending suspects in public areas and a ban on roaming patrols.
Republicans have rejected these demands, arguing they would handcuff President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement goals. Without Democratic support, Republicans need at least seven Democrats to reach the 60-vote threshold to break a filibuster in the Senate, where they hold just 53 seats.
Senate Democrats have not publicly outlined how long they plan to maintain their position. The party's leadership has framed the demands as necessary reforms to ICE operations.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans have criticized Democrats for refusing to fund DHS during a period of heightened security concerns. Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said Democrats have shut down the department charged with defending the nation from terrorism while the country remains on high alert.
Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, urged Democrats to stop playing dangerous games with DHS funding. He emphasized the urgency amid escalating threats from Iran and the need for America to be fully prepared to respond to homeland security threats.
Republicans argue that blocking DHS funding during a string of attacks undermines the government's ability to protect Americans.
What the Numbers Show
DHS funding originally lapsed on Feb. 14, marking one month without full department funding as of Saturday. The department manages the Transportation Security Administration, the Secret Service and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, in addition to ICE.
Republicans hold 53 seats in the Senate, meaning they need at least seven Democrats to reach the 60-vote threshold necessary to break a filibuster on spending legislation.
The recent incidents include a vehicle ramming at a synagogue in Michigan, a university shooting in Virginia, detonations of explosives in New York and another shooting in Texas.
The Bottom Line
The standoff over DHS funding remains unresolved with no clear timeline for when Democrats will support appropriations. Republicans have seized on recent security incidents to argue that DHS should be fully funded, while Democrats maintain their conditions for ICE reforms. The balance of power in the Senate means Republicans cannot advance funding without Democratic support, creating a stalemate that persists amid ongoing security concerns. What to watch: whether any moderate Democrats break ranks, or if either side signals willingness to compromise on their respective positions.