With the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) potentially grinding to a halt in just over a week, high-stakes negotiations in Congress remain startlingly stagnant. Senate Majority Leader John Thune revealed on Thursday that, despite efforts, serious talks have scarcely begun.

Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), the Republican lead on the matter, has reportedly reached out to Democratic counterparts to initiate negotiations but has been met with silence. Thune described the Democrats' response as "crickets," signaling a concerning lack of dialogue as the deadline approaches. Britt herself has criticized a recent Democratic proposal, labeling it a "ridiculous Christmas list of demands for the press," a sentiment echoed by Thune who dismissed much of the proposal as non-serious.

Conversely, Democrats seem to perceive the situation differently. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a key Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee overseeing DHS, contested the claim that Democrats are avoiding discussions. Indications of some level of communication were seen when Britt was observed in conversation with Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), suggesting that some informal discussions might be taking place.

As Senators prepare to leave Washington for the week, Thune expressed urgency in seeing some progress by Thursday afternoon. Without significant advancement, he indicated readiness to propose another stopgap bill for DHS funding before the looming February 13 deadline. The nature of this temporary funding solution, whether a two- or three-week extension or a longer-term resolution, hinges on the ongoing but faltering negotiations.

Thune emphasized that any stopgap measure would require Democratic support to pass, despite many Democrats in both the House and Senate refusing to back another continuing resolution. However, a critical number of Senate Democrats seem open to another temporary funding measure if it becomes necessary.

As the clock ticks down, the potential for a DHS shutdown becomes more real, with critical services and operations at risk. The coming days are crucial as both sides are pressed to bridge their differences and reach a viable agreement to avert a crisis.