Senator Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks to the media as Cabinet officials deliver a congressional briefing on Iran at the Capitol in Washington on March 3, 2026.
Heather Diehl | getty images
Congressional Democrats sent a new counterproposal to the White House to reopen the Department of Homeland Security, a person familiar with the talks told CNBC.
DHS has been closed since February 14. The shutdown comes as Democrats are demanding changes to the way federal immigration enforcement is conducted in exchange for the release of funding following the shooting death of two US citizens by DHS officers in Minneapolis. Democrats and President Donald Trump’s White House have been trading proposals for more than a month but have yet to reach an agreement.
The latest Democratic counterproposal was sent late last night, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private talks. The person declined to say what the Democrats’ latest volley contained.
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations, told CNBC that the White House has received the counterproposal and is reviewing it. The official also did not provide any details included in the Democrats’ latest proposal.
The shutdown at DHS has been less disruptive than last year’s record-long widespread government shutdown. Most of DHS is considered essential, meaning employees are continuing to work without pay.
But the impact of the funding disruption is being seen at airports, where Transportation Security Administration agents are quitting or withdrawing rather than work without pay. He and other DHS employees missed their first full pay check last week. Due to shortage of agents, large crowds have gathered at security posts.