Tim Scott's new staff director abruptly ended ongoing negotiations with Senate colleagues, ordering both Tillis staff and Democratic staffers out of the room with a blunt "We're done."

The move signals a potential breakdown in bipartisan talks, though the specific legislation or issue under discussion wasn't disclosed. Scott recently reshuffled his senior staff, and this appears to be one of the new director's first major actions.

Democratic staffers expressed surprise at the sudden shutdown of what had been active discussions.