The House of Representatives passed a bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), effectively ending a partial government shutdown that began in February. This move follows over a month of opposition from House Republicans, despite the Senate passing the same funding bill unanimously several weeks prior. The White House had signaled urgency, warning that emergency funding for DHS would expire soon.
The funding measure addresses issues related to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which had previously faced staffing challenges due to delayed paychecks, resulting in long lines at airports. However, the bill does not allocate funds for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and parts of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which focus on immigration enforcement. Lawmakers are exploring a procedural method known as budget reconciliation to secure funding for these agencies, which requires a lower vote threshold in the Senate.
The House's passage of the funding bill comes amid significant political tension. Democrats declined to support funding for immigration enforcement following incidents involving federal agents, while Republicans resisted Democratic proposals to alter immigration policies. House Speaker Mike Johnson initially opposed the Senate's version of the funding bill due to the absence of ICE and CBP funding but later shifted his stance under pressure from both within his party and external influences, including President Trump.
Following the vote, Johnson characterized the advancement of the budget resolution for ICE and CBP as a prerequisite for passing the broader DHS funding. This development reflects ongoing negotiations and the complex dynamics within Congress regarding immigration and security funding priorities.