The Senate has voted to fund much of the Department of Homeland Security, marking a significant step toward reopening parts of the agency that have been partially shut down for over a month. This development comes as President Trump announced he would unilaterally order pay for TSA workers, bypassing Congress to address airport disruptions.
The Senate passed a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security early Friday morning, potentially ending a 42-day standoff. The agreement covers agencies like TSA, FEMA, the Coast Guard, and cybersecurity initiatives. However, it notably does not include funding for the agency’s primary immigration enforcement operations or changes to ICE practices, which had been a sticking point in negotiations.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune described the deal as “unfortunate” but stated that Democrats did not achieve their desired reforms. Conversely, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer praised the Democratic caucus for standing united and holding their ground throughout the impasse.
President Trump announced on Thursday that he would sign an order directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to immediately pay TSA agents. This move aims to alleviate widespread delays and disruptions at U.S. airports, which Trump attributed to “Democrat Chaos.” The decision to bypass Congress was made to address what he termed an “Emergency Situation.”
This unilateral action by the President, however, has been criticized by some Democrats. Lawmakers like Representative Brad Schneider argued that Trump “could have done this on day one” and that he “punished hard working TSA agents” to protect his administration’s immigration policies. The exact timeline for TSA workers to receive their pay, including any back pay, remains unclear.
While the DHS funding bill addresses critical operational needs for several agencies, the exclusion of funding for ICE and Customs and Border Protection reflects the Democrats’ success in maintaining their negotiating stance. Republicans had previously secured substantial funding for ICE in the previous summer, insulating the agency from the immediate effects of the shutdown. There is also speculation that further funding for immigration enforcement could be pursued through other legislative avenues, with some Republicans hinting at potential future actions regarding deportations.
The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives, where a vote to end the shutdown is anticipated as early as Friday.