Senate Democrats and eight Republicans blocked a major government funding bill on Thursday. The vote was 45-55 against advancing the bill. This bill, including six parts, must pass by 11:59 pm Friday to avoid a shutdown. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) was a late “no” voter but asked to reconsider soon. Democrats objected because the bill funds the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). They want reforms on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions and end to violent federal law enforcement encounters. If the bill fails by Friday night, a government shutdown will start at one minute past midnight on January 30. But only some parts of the government will shut down. Agencies funded till 2026, like the FBI, Justice Department, and Veterans Affairs, remain open. Other parts included in this bill, like the Defense Department, Treasury, Health and Human Services, the federal courts, and DHS, could face disruption. This could delay court work, medical research, labor data, and IRS tax processing including refunds. DHS is a large department with ICE, Coast Guard, Secret Service, and Customs and Border Protection. The Trump administration is now negotiating with Senate Democrats to separate DHS funding from the other agencies. Democrats want to debate ICE reforms without risking funding for the rest. Talks are intensifying in the final hours before the deadline.