Senate Democrats Block DHS Funding Bill Amid Shutdown

WASHINGTON—Senate Democrats on March 5 again blocked a vote on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security, extending the 19-day partial shutdown of the agency. The tally was 51–45. A March 5 procedural vote to advance a full-year DHS spending bill failed to reach the 60-vote threshold it needed to move forward. A previous attempt was blocked on Feb. 24, though it garnered the support of Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.). The vote comes as President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he is replacing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem with Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.). Noem is set to fill a newly created position called special envoy of the shield of the Americas. The president released the news shortly before the vote concluded....