Despite long airport lines and growing concerns about domestic threats, Senate Democrats once again blocked the passage of the Department of Homeland Security budget on Friday, January 20.

The shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, now in its 35th day, is on track to become the second-longest in history, following a fifth attempt by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Republican senators to end the shutdown failed.

With airport lines stretching for blocks, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers going without pay, and fears of further terrorist attacks escalating after two shootings in the U.S. last week, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and his Democratic colleagues remained unmoved.

They repeatedly attempted to force separate votes on funding for other parts of the Department of Homeland Security unrelated to immigration, including efforts to pay TSA officers, but were blocked each time.

"The Republicans are saying, 'Unless we pass ICE as is, without any reform, we are not going to help the TSA workers get paid, we're not going to help the lines at the airports get shorter,'" said Sen. Schumer.

Sen. Thune told Fox News Digital that Democrats are trapped by their base and are cornered into blocking government funding to defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"The question is, will enough Democrats be willing to step up and find common ground and have enough respect for the appropriations process and our mission to keep government functioning and show the courage to make difficult decisions, even when their base is screaming for them to do otherwise," Thune said.

Nevertheless, faint signs of a thaw emerged this week, showing a potential departure from the stalemate.

After more than two weeks of silence, Democrats sent another counteroffer to the White House. The administration dismissed it as a non-serious attempt by Democrats and, in response, released five concessions that they were willing to make to reopen the Department of Homeland Security.

"The gap between the two sides remains large, and that's largely because the administration put forward a serious proposal with five items they were willing to negotiate further on, and there has been no commensurate response," a senior White House official said earlier this week.

However, that proposal and public pushback led to a private meeting at Capitol Hill on Thursday with Tom Homan, the former acting director of ICE and now the head of border security, where senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Angus King (I-Maine), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) had their first substantive in-person meeting since the government shutdown began.

Thune said the senators were expected to meet again on Friday.

"I think it’s going to take until today to see if we’re really serious about coming to an agreement," he said.

Meanwhile, the Senate is continuing the confirmation process for Oklahoma Republican Rep. Markwayne Mullin to be President Donald Trump's nominee for Homeland Security Secretary, replacing the embattled Kirstjen Nielsen.

He barely cleared committee with the backing of Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) but faces stiff opposition from Democrats in the Senate. Fetterman has indicated he supports passing funding for Homeland Security and ending the shutdown, but he is alone among Democrats in his stance.

Schumer and Democrats have called for Nielsen's ouster, and Mullin offered concessions during his confirmation hearing to the demands of his opposition colleagues for weeks, most notably his willingness to require ICE agents to obtain warrants before entering residences in most cases.

Still, Democrats have not budged. They are seeking a separate vote on TSA funding, a measure that also is likely to be rejected by Republicans.

Moreover, Thune is reluctant to have lawmakers leave Washington, D.C., again before government functions resume, given that lawmakers are scheduled to take a two-week break for Easter after next week.

"This issue needs to be resolved by the end of next week," Thune said. "I don’t think we can go on vacation if the government is still shut down."

By NNP Chief Reporter Hong Seong-gu / Special Correspondent of this newspaper NNP info@newsandpost.com