Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) is standing firm against requests from some Democratic colleagues to halt funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), even if such a move could trigger another government shutdown. In an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Warner, who serves as the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, acknowledged his concerns regarding the recent tragic shooting of a 37-year-old American citizen by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. However, he is hesitant to use the looming government funding deadline at the end of the month as leverage for this purpose.
Warner remarked, “We went through the longest government shutdown in American history last year. I don’t think we need to repeat it,” when asked whether he would support freezing ICE funding. The last prolonged government shutdown, which lasted 43 days, concluded on November 13, when a bipartisan coalition of Democrats and Republicans backed a continuing resolution to extend funding. During that standoff, Democrats were primarily advocating for an extension of enhanced health care subsidies, which were set to expire at the end of 2025.
As Congress approaches a new funding deadline on January 30, legislators are racing to finalize three appropriations packages to prevent another shutdown. One of these packages will address funding for the Department of Homeland Security, with some Democrats eyeing this as an opportunity to impose new restrictions on President Trump’s deportation policies.
Despite such calls, Warner remains hopeful for bipartisanship in Congress. He cited the recent passage of a war powers resolution supported by several Republicans as a sign of potential cooperation moving forward. “I do think we need to go ahead and get our appropriations bills done, keep the government operating,” he stated. He expressed optimism that there may be signs of division among Republicans regarding their stance on President Trump, underscoring a shift that could facilitate legislative progress.
Through his remarks, Warner emphasizes the necessity of maintaining government operations while addressing critical issues such as immigration enforcement. His perspective embodies a desire for collaborative governance, aiming to bridge partisan divides for the benefit of the American public.