Senate Advances DHS Funding Bill with Only 5 Senators Present

Onlookers express outrage over near-empty chamber during midnight vote

Mar. 27, 2026 at 11:18am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a late-night session, the U.S. Senate advanced a bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. However, the vote took place with only 5 senators present, drawing widespread criticism from observers who questioned the legitimacy of such a small group passing legislation involving tens of billions in taxpayer dollars.

Why it matters

The ability of just a handful of senators to approve major government funding measures without a full quorum present raises concerns about the democratic process and transparency in Congress. The incident highlights longstanding debates over Senate rules and procedures that allow business to be conducted with minimal participation.

The details

The Senate adopted the DHS funding bill around 3 a.m. on Friday morning, with only 5 of the 100 total senators in attendance. Under Senate rules, a quorum is assumed to exist by default, and can only be challenged through a formal quorum call, which did not occur during this vote. This allowed the small group of senators to advance the legislation without the majority of the chamber present.

  • The Senate vote took place around 3 a.m. on Friday, March 27, 2026.

The players

The Nashvillian

A critic of the Trump administration with over 4,500 followers on X.

Solomon Ni

A progressive advocate and student leader at Rice University in Houston, Texas.

Dave Peterson

A Canadian climate change advocate with nearly 3,000 followers on X.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I don't understand. Five people is a quorum in the Senate?”

— The Nashvillian, X user

“And they call us a democracy.”

— Solomon Ni, Progressive advocate and student leader

“The ability of a paltry five senators to approve the allocation of tens of billions of dollars had solidified Congress becoming 'a not-funny joke'.”

— Dave Peterson, Canadian climate change advocate

The takeaway

This incident highlights longstanding concerns about the lack of transparency and democratic accountability in the U.S. Senate, where a small number of lawmakers can advance major legislation without the participation of the full chamber. It raises questions about the need for reforms to Senate rules and procedures to ensure greater public oversight and participation in the legislative process.