Senate votes to fund most of Homeland Security; ICE remains stalled
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "Senate votes to fund most of Homeland Security; ICE remains stalled")
Senate votes to fund most of Homeland Security; ICE remains stalled Photograph: (Credit: AFP/File photo)
In a rare overnight session, the Senate unanimously voted to fund the TSA and Coast Guard, ending a 42-day DHS shutdown while leaving ICE and Border Patrol unfunded
In a rare overnight session, the Senate moved unanimously early Friday (Mar 27) to restore funding for the majority of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). However, the deal stops short of a full department reopening, leaving critical border agencies in a state of financial limbo. This agreement provides immediate funding for essential components, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the US Coast Guard. Despite this breakthrough, the consensus remained fragile. Lawmakers notably excluded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and segments of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from the package following a collapse in negotiations earlier on Thursday (Mar 26).
As the negotiations fell apart, Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters, “We’re going to execute on as much of DHS as we can tonight, and then we’ll fund the rest of it later.”
Also read: 'No masks': Trump orders ICE agents deployed at US airports amid partial government shutdown
The funding stalemate has pushed DHS personnel to a breaking point, as thousands of TSA agents and department employees face mounting shifts without pay. The financial strain is manifesting as a logistical nightmare for the public: severe staffing shortages have triggered nationwide travel delays and a surge in missed flights.
As the crisis enters a critical phase, the atmosphere on Capitol Hill has turned increasingly volatile. Lawmakers are facing immense pressure to resolve the impasse immediately, with the urgency fueled by an impending two-week congressional recess. Senators are now scrambling to secure a deal before departing Washington, fearing the political fallout of leaving the nation’s security infrastructure, and its workforce is in limbo during the break.
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