For the third time in less than a year, House Democrats are expressing frustration over a spending deal forged in the Senate, feeling sidelined in the process. The latest agreement, a collaborative effort between President Donald Trump and Senate Democratic leaders, primarily aims to prevent a government shutdown by funding most federal agencies through the end of September. However, it extends Homeland Security funding only until February 13, a decision that has not sat well with many House Democrats due to ongoing concerns over immigration enforcement policies.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) voiced her discontent, critiquing some Senate Democrats for their apparent apprehension and reluctance to take a firmer stand. "We end up having to answer for what they won't do, and it can be very frustrating," Jayapal stated, highlighting a growing rift within the party. Meanwhile, Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) emphasized the importance of involving House members in negotiations, especially on matters directly affecting their districts like ICE and Border Patrol operations.

This isn't the first time Senate actions have caused an uproar among House Democrats. Just last March, members and voters alike were incensed when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and a few others allowed a spending package to advance during the controversial Elon Musk-led DOGE assault on federal agencies. Discontent arose again in November when a faction of Senate Democrats sided with Republicans to conclude a record 43-day government shutdown.

The current deal, involving $1.2 trillion in full-year funding, has garnered general support from Democrats for its broader provisions. However, the inclusion of temporary DHS funding remains a contentious issue, particularly following the recent fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis.

A previous version of the DHS bill, which passed in the House before the incident, only received support from seven Democrats. Post-incident, Senate Democrats balked at approving full-year funding for DHS, leading to negotiations between Schumer and Trump for a two-week extension to allow further dialogue.

Despite these efforts, the divide among Senate Democrats was evident, with fewer than half supporting the deal. House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) admitted House Democrats were not adequately consulted on the agreement, noting, "I don’t think that’s surprising."

As the spending package heads to the House floor, the ability of House Republicans to unite on a key test vote remains uncertain. Speaker Mike Johnson (R) considered a bipartisan fast-track process, which requires a two-thirds majority, but was met with resistance from Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D) and his leadership team, who were not prepared to commit the votes needed.

Jeffries downplayed any rift within the Democratic Party, insisting there's alignment on the goal of substantial ICE reform. However, opinions among Democrats are still split. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) supports the bill, while Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) opposes it, emphasizing the need to uphold the Fourth Amendment rights against unlawful searches.

As the vote approaches, many Democrats remain undecided, acknowledging the challenge of supporting a largely favorable funding bill that also implicates controversial DHS operations. The ongoing blame game with the Senate, as noted by Aguilar, reflects a perennial challenge in congressional dynamics, demonstrating the complexities of bipartisan negotiations and inter-chamber relations.