Senate Moves to Avert Shutdown with Controversial Immigration and Phone Records Measures
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 29: The U.S. Capitol Building is seen as the Senate continues negotiations on a government funding bill on January 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Senate is currently negotiating federal government funding legislation to prevent a partial shutdown at midnight on Friday. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
By Sam Barron | Friday, 30 January 2026 04:34 PM EST
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and GOP leaders have reached an agreement that will see the upper chamber vote on funding the government hours before a potential shutdown was set to begin.
Graham placed a hold on the vote, threatening to derail the compromise with Democrats because it did not include legislation allowing senators to receive $500,000 cash payouts if their telephone records were seized by special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into the 2020 election.
Republican leaders agreed to delay the vote and hold another vote that would outlaw sanctuary cities—those that shield illegal aliens from prosecution or deportation—and Graham lifted his hold on the agreement.
“We’re going to have a vote on the United States Senate in two weeks as to whether or not we should criminalize the act of local and state officials who willfully disobey laws on the books because it’s good politics for them,” Graham said.
“What conduct am I talking about? State and local officials openly defying federal law that’s been on the books for decades, incentivizing more illegal immigration, massive taxpayer rip-offs, and breaking of law and order,” he added.
Graham also criticized Republicans for not doing enough to hold protesters against Immigration and Customs Enforcement accountable for harassing agents and interfering in their operations.
“These people are patriotic. They’re away from home,” Graham said. “These crowds that follow them to their hotel—they intimidate their families. The people pushing this are nuts. They’re not normal.”
Graham stated he also wants a vote on substitute language expanding who can sue if their phone records are seized and requiring notification when senators are affected by a subpoena, according to Politico.
While Graham was one of the senators whose phone records were subpoenaed by Smith, he vowed this was not personal. “It’s not about me; 190 private groups had their phone records messed with,” Graham said. “I want notification.”
A deal was reached Thursday to advance a major package of federal spending bills that would avert a government shutdown for most agencies beginning Saturday. The agreement would split the Department of Homeland Security funding bill from the broader package and fund DHS at current levels for roughly two weeks while negotiations continue.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., criticized “a handful of Republicans who are refusing to let us move forward” during a floor speech.
The Senate is expected to vote on the government funding bill later Friday, with the House voting on the measure early next week. The short-term DHS extension aims to prevent an immediate lapse in funding for the agency while isolating the most contentious issues.
The broader spending package would fund the departments of War, Labor, Health and Human Services, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development through the end of the fiscal year.
