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Graham’s anger focused on how Immigration and Customs Enforcement was treated during negotiations. He made clear he was not willing to sign off on language he believes undermines agents on the front lines.
ICE agents “are not infallible, but I appreciate what they’re doing. I’ve never been more offended than I am right now by what’s being said about these folks,” Graham said.
That sentiment echoed across the Republican conference. The original funding package had already failed a key procedural vote earlier in the day after seven Republicans joined Democrats to block it. The revised deal only deepened the divide.
Once Trump publicly endorsed the scaled back plan, Thune and Senate leadership rushed to pull skeptical Republicans back into line. The effort failed. The conference remained fractured over earmarks, border enforcement, and what many conservatives view as Democrats using funding leverage to weaken DHS.
“Tomorrow’s another day, and hopefully people will be in a spirit to try and get this done tomorrow,” Thune told reporters as he left the Capitol late Thursday.
Normally, leadership moves a must pass funding bill through the Senate using the hotline process, a fast track system that clears measures unless a senator objects. This time, the process barely got off the ground.
According to sources familiar with the talks, Democrats had not even initiated the hotline by Thursday night. They were waiting for Republicans to resolve their internal dispute, a dispute that showed no signs of cooling.
Adding fuel to the fire was a provision buried in the DHS bill tied to the Arctic Frost investigation led by former special counsel Jack Smith. The provision allows senators whose phone records were subpoenaed to sue for up to $500,000 per violation. Democrats want it repealed. Graham has been one of its fiercest defenders.
Graham has previously blocked attempts to strip the measure, arguing it protects lawmakers from abuse by federal investigators. When asked if his hold was tied to the repeal effort, he denied it and pointed to an ethics agreement that prevents him from personally benefiting from any lawsuit.
“We can find out a way forward, but not this way,” Graham said.
As the night wore on, it became clear the shutdown lawmakers hoped to avoid was slipping out of reach. With no consensus, no cleared hotline, and the House still waiting, the path forward narrowed by the hour.
For conservatives, the standoff highlights a deeper fight over border security and the role of DHS. For Democrats, it is another chance to paint Republicans as divided. For the White House, it is a reminder that even presidential backing cannot force unity when the base believes core priorities are being compromised.
By the time lawmakers left the Capitol, the mood was grim. The shutdown clock kept ticking, and Washington headed into the weekend knowing the crisis was no longer theoretical. It was imminent.
