Dem senators in the hot seat as Republicans rip their DHS vote amid terror threats: 'Under attack'

Republicans believe the offer was little more than political theater that ignored the core of the funding gridlock as concerns about Iranian sleeper cell threats and airport chaos rise. 

"I just offered a UC to fund FEMA and Republicans shot it down," Schiff said, referring to the Senate process to pass legislation on the spot, known as "unanimous consent."

Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., a lawmaker who has blocked UCs on the shutdown in the past, blasted Democrats for, in her view, trying to punt the negotiations on larger DHS disagreements.

"We would like that opportunity to continue funding the Department of Homeland Security in its entirety. Look, the people who sent us here expect more," Britt said in remarks on the Senate floor.

"They expect us to have tough conversations. They expect us to figure out a pathway forward. And that's exactly what we're trying to do today."

A fired-up Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., accused Senate Democrats of trying to rip the agency apart at a moment it was designed for, as the war in Iran has spurred threats of retaliation in the U.S. by sleeper cells.

"And that's at a time when our homeland is under attack, all warning lights are flashing red, and they want to peel apart, piece by piece, the Department of Homeland Security, the comprehensive department of our government to protect the American people, because they want to stand with illegal immigrant criminals," Barrasso said.

Schumer declared that Senate Democrats would continue to provide piecemeal funding bills to reopen certain portions of the agency, like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), while negotiations continued.

Although talks are ongoing, lawmakers have said critical disagreements remain.

Like ICE, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) operates under DHS alongside other agencies like the Coast Guard, the Secret Service and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have voiced concern that the unrelated reforms to ICE that Democrats have demanded are threatening the country's readiness to respond to natural disasters.

Fox News Digital's Alex Miller contributed to this report.