The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill overnight to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through September, with the exception of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This action addresses the 42-day partial government shutdown that has caused airport security disruptions and unpaid furloughs for hundreds of thousands of DHS workers, including TSA agents.
The legislative move followed President Trump’s announcement that he would use an executive order to direct the newly confirmed DHS Secretary, Markwayne Mullin, to pay TSA workers, bypassing Congress. Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated a preference for traditional funding but pushed the bill to restore pay for most DHS employees.
The bill now moves to the House, where bipartisan support is expected, with Democrats indicating they will vote for it to resolve the airport disruptions and allow members to return home. However, the exclusion of ICE and CBP—which have remained operational during the shutdown due to separate, substantial funding—creates a political hurdle for some House Republicans.
Future negotiations will focus on funding and potential reforms for ICE and CBP, agencies under intense scrutiny following recent enforcement incidents. While Democrats seek substantial reforms, the Trump administration and Republicans have resisted such demands. The bill’s passage would end the shutdown’s impact on most DHS agencies but leaves the contentious debate over immigration enforcement funding unresolved.
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