Senate Democrats announced they would withhold support for the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill unless it is rewritten to include restrictions on ICE operations, increasing the odds of a partial federal shutdown that would hit the Department of Education and other agencies. Negotiations for the remaining appropriations bills are now tied to demonstrations and outrage over federal enforcement actions in Minnesota. Universities could see disruptions to federal research grants, student aid administration and campus safety funding if the standoff leads to a lapse in appropriations. Higher‑education leaders and government relations teams are monitoring bargaining over DHS language closely, since attached provisions may affect campus operations and research compliance.