The Senate voted 51-45 to block the passage of legislation that would fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Every Democrat except for Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) voted against the measure. The bill required 60 votes to pass. BREAKING: US Senate REJECTS effort to reopen the Department of Homeland Security in a 51-45 vote, despite an ACTIVE threat of terrorist sleeper cells amid conflict with Iran John Fetterman joined Republicans voting YEA Chuck Schumer and the Democrats are TRAITORS and must… pic.twitter.com/g6lEnSyXeJ — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 5, 2026 The Hill explained further: Republicans had pointed to the conflict with Iran to push Democrats to fund DHS, arguing the strikes had increased threats to the homeland. But even centrist Democrats appeared unmoved by the argument. “No, I don’t. … [Republicans] gave DHS plenty of money in the ‘big, beautiful bill.’ They have plenty of money. So we’re not going to suddenly say, ‘Oh, well, let’s give up our request for necessary reforms,’” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) told The Hill earlier this week. The latest failed vote ensures the shutdown will last into a fourth week as lawmakers make little headway toward a deal. Despite nearly every Democrat voting against the legislation, the House passed the measure in a 221-209 vote. “Let the record show: nearly every House Democrat just voted AGAINST funding the Department of Homeland Security. When it mattered most, they chose to protect criminal aliens over YOU, the American citizen. A complete rejection of our security and sovereignty. Remember that,” Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) commented. Let the record show: nearly every House Democrat just voted AGAINST funding the Department of Homeland Security. When it mattered most, they chose to protect criminal aliens over YOU, the American citizen. A complete rejection of our security and sovereignty. Remember that. pic.twitter.com/LNDKmOt8oe — Rep. Mary Miller (@RepMaryMiller) March 5, 2026 CBS News has more: GOP leaders have called on their colleagues across the aisle to support a bipartisan agreement that appropriators reached earlier this year to fund DHS through September. But that deal was reached before a second fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis in January, which prompted Democrats to oppose any funding for the department without reforms to immigration enforcement. President Trump announced shortly before the Senate vote that he was replacing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, adding a new twist to negotiations. Some Democrats indicated the move could help lead to a compromise. Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said earlier that “it might be easier for us to negotiate” on DHS funding if Noem was fired. Republicans have argued that ending the impasse has grown more urgent since the beginning of the war with Iran. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota said this week that “there are always threats to the homeland that have to be addressed,” but the stakes are higher now. “It shouldn’t need saying that it’s always a terrible idea to use the Department of Homeland Security as a political pawn,” Thune said. “But above all right now, with enhanced terror threat from Iran and Iran-funded terrorist groups, it is vital that we ensure the Department of Homeland Security is fully funded and fully functioning.” House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said in a statement Tuesday that “military action in Iran makes it all the more urgent and crucial to have a fully staffed, fully funded Department of Homeland Security across all departments.”