The recent fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minnesota is causing significant upheaval in Washington, D.C., increasing the likelihood of a government shutdown as Republican lawmakers reconsider their stance on Trump administration policies.

Shutdown Imminent as Senate Struggles with Funding Bills

The Senate is poised for a crucial vote on Thursday concerning the last batch of government funding bills. However, prospects for a smooth passage appear grim. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is pushing for bipartisanship to amend the DHS funding legislation. Despite this, Schumer has indicated that Democrats might support the other five pending appropriations bills. Nonetheless, several Democrats, crucial in resolving the previous shutdown, have declared they will oppose the bills unless significant changes are made to ICE operations in Minnesota.

Senate GOP and White House Scramble for Solutions

The Senate GOP leadership plans to proceed with the six-bill package, which includes DHS funding. Although Republicans and the White House have initiated discussions with Senate Democrats, a Senate Democratic leadership aide has mentioned that no "realistic solutions" have been proposed yet. Meanwhile, President Trump is advocating for legislation to "END Sanctuary Cities," adding more tension to the already strained negotiations.

Concerns within the GOP and Calls for Investigation

The incident has not only affected legislative negotiations but also stirred unease among Republicans. A growing faction of GOP members in both the House and Senate is publicly demanding an investigation into the Minnesota shooting. Even staunch Trump supporters like Sen. David McCormick (R-Pa.) have expressed the need for a thorough inquiry, echoing concerns raised by the NRA.

Testimonies and Resistance

Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.), Chair of the House Homeland Security, is calling for DHS officials to testify before Congress. Simultaneously, House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) suggested that President Trump might need to consider relocating his focus from Minnesota due to local pushback.

GOP's Internal Warnings

Privately, some Republicans had been cautioning the administration and party leaders about the political repercussions of Trump’s aggressive immigration policies. "Many of us wonder if the administration has any clue as to how much this will hurt us legislatively and electorally this year," a concerned House Republican disclosed.

As Capitol Hill braces for potential disruptions, the stakes are incredibly high with more than 75 percent of federal discretionary spending hanging in the balance due to these funding bills. With the House out for the week and a delayed Senate vote due to a snowstorm, the path forward remains fraught with uncertainty and political peril.

*Jordain Carney and Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.*