Senate Blocks Spending Package over Fight on DHS Funding

A government funding package failed to advance on Thursday as Congress seeks to avoid a partial government shutdown.

The Senate voted 55-45 against moving forward with a six-spending bill package that would fund many parts of the federal government, including the departments of Homeland Security (DHS), State, Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Defense Department.

The government would face a partial government shutdown if Congress could not reach a deal by the end of Friday.

The House passed the package of spending bills and then left to recess. The Senate was on track to pass the spending bills; however, the death of Alex Pretti, a protestor in Minneapolis, Minnesota, complicated matters.

Democrats now oppose advancing the package of spending bills as long as funding