WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders are moving forward with a strategy to partially resolve the historic Department of Homeland Security shutdown, with the Senate potentially voting Thursday on legislation that would restore funding to most of the agency.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune revealed their coordinated approach Wednesday, marking a shift toward a bipartisan Senate proposal after previous attempts failed to gain traction. The two-step strategy would immediately fund the majority of DHS operations while excluding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol from the initial package.
The Republican leaders plan to address funding for those immigration enforcement agencies through separate, party-line legislation later, though that process could extend for several months. President Donald Trump has endorsed this approach, despite potential resistance from conservative members of their own party.
“We appreciate and share the President’s determination to once and for all bring an end to the Democrat DHS shutdown,” Johnson, R-La., and Thune, R-S.D., stated.
Last week, House Republicans rejected the Senate’s proposal that excluded ICE and Border Patrol, instead modifying the legislation to provide 60-day funding for the entire department.
Wednesday marked the 47th day of the DHS shutdown. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer criticized the situation, stating, “Republican divisions derailed a bipartisan agreement, making American families pay the price for their dysfunction.”
Conservative lawmakers are expected to push back against the compromise, demanding complete funding for Trump’s immigration enforcement priorities.
“Let’s make this simple: caving to Democrats and not paying CBP and ICE is agreeing to defund Law Enforcement and leaving our borders wide open again,” Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., wrote on X. “If that’s the vote, I’m a NO.”
Thursday’s Senate session will be a brief procedural meeting where senators could advance the measure through unanimous consent, provided no member raises objections. If successful, the legislation would return to the House, which is also conducting a procedural session Thursday morning.
Trump has requested a separate budget package to fund ICE and Border Patrol through his entire term, aiming to shield these agencies from future Democratic opposition to his immigration policies. The president wants this legislation completed by June 1.
“We are going to work as fast, and as focused, as possible to replenish funding for our Border and ICE Agents, and the Radical Left Democrats won’t be able to stop us,” Trump declared.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries responded to the Republican announcement by saying, “It’s time to pay TSA agents, end the airport chaos and fully fund every part of the Department of Homeland Security that does not relate to Donald Trump’s violent mass deportation machine.”
Most Homeland Security employees have continued working throughout the shutdown despite missing paychecks, leading to increased absences among Transportation Security Administration workers. This resulted in lengthy security delays at major airports nationwide, though conditions have improved this week as agents began receiving back pay following a Trump executive order.
