Senate Delays Shutdown Deal After Lindsey Graham Objects to Privacy Provision
A last-minute objection by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) forced the Senate to delay its vote Thursday night on a critical package aimed at averting a government shutdown. The delay came after Graham raised concerns about the removal of a privacy protection measure for members of Congress whose phone records may have been accessed without their consent.
The original measure, tucked into a continuing resolution passed in November, allowed senators to sue the federal government if it secretly obtained their phone metadata. That provision was inspired by revelations that the FBI reviewed call records from several Republican lawmakers during its investigation into the events of January 6 and President Trump’s alleged involvement. Graham insisted the provision should remain.
“What senator wouldn’t want notification that they’re looking at your phone?” Graham said. “If you were abused, your phone records were illegally seized — you should have your day in court.”
Graham met privately with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) before emerging with the news that no vote would occur Thursday evening. The dispute came just hours after Senate Democrats and the White House reached an agreement to move forward on five appropriations bills, separating out Department of Homeland Security funding for a later vote. That carve-out was also opposed by Graham, who said he would not support separating DHS from the broader deal.
“The cops need us right now,” Graham said. “They’re being demonized. They’re being spat upon. They can’t sleep at night.” He warned that removing DHS funding from the package would send the wrong message at a time when law enforcement faces immense pressure across the country.
The House had already voted earlier this month to repeal the provision allowing senators to sue over record seizures. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said the right to privacy should be extended to all Americans, not just members of Congress. But Graham disagreed, arguing that the provision helped restore public trust after the abuses of power exposed in recent years.
Senator Thune, who is helping to shepherd the legislation through the upper chamber, remained optimistic. “Tomorrow’s another day, and hopefully people will be in a spirit to try and get this done,” he told reporters.
Without action, the federal government is set to shut down at midnight on Friday. The delay raises the stakes heading into the weekend, with lawmakers scrambling to avoid service disruptions across the country.
President Donald Trump urged Congress to pass the deal and extend DHS funding for two weeks to allow for continued negotiations. “Hopefully, both Republicans and Democrats will give a very much needed Bipartisan ‘YES’ Vote,” Trump posted on Truth Social. He praised the deal for keeping most of the government funded until September while emphasizing plans to rebuild the Coast Guard and secure border operations.
As of Friday morning, negotiations remain fluid, with Senate leaders working to address Graham’s concerns and secure the votes needed to avoid a lapse in funding.