House Passes Bipartisan Bill Funding Most of DHS, Ending Record Shutdown

WASHINGTON — After weeks of delay, the House on Thursday approved funding for most of the Department of Homeland Security while excluding immigration enforcement components, and sent the bipartisan package to President Donald Trump to sign—bringing an end to the longest shutdown in the agency’s history.

What Happened

The White House had warned that temporary measures President Trump used to keep Transportation Security Administration staff and other DHS employees paid would "soon run out," raising concerns about traveler disruptions at airports. DHS has been without routine appropriations since Feb. 14, creating financial strain for many workers even as elements of the administration’s immigration agenda were financed through separate channels.

House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., watches before Britain's King Charles III arrives to speak to a joint meeting of Congress in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

“It is about damn time,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, who first proposed the measure more than 70 days ago.

Political Fight Over Immigration Funding

Lawmakers split over whether to include funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. Democrats refused to provide money for those agencies until changes were made following public outcry after the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents during protests in Minneapolis. Republicans insisted immigration enforcement should not be excluded from funding.

To break the stalemate, Republican leaders in the House and Senate moved to separate immigration enforcement funding from the broader DHS bill through the budget reconciliation process. House Republicans then approved a budget resolution that would pave the way for roughly $70 billion in additional immigration enforcement and deportation funding for the remainder of the administration’s term.

FILE - Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., speaks with reporters on the steps at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Impact On Workers And Operations

DHS employs roughly 260,000 people across TSA, the Coast Guard, FEMA and other components. Many workers faced months of uncertainty, missed paychecks and the threat of furloughs. Industry groups reported fallout: Airlines for America said more than 1,000 TSA officers resigned since the shutdown began, and unions warned the disruption has harmed morale and staffing.

Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, praised Congress for finally acting but said it was unacceptable that funding was delayed: “Federal employees are not political pawns. They are Americans—and they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.”

What’s Next

With the bipartisan DHS funding package now headed to the president, lawmakers will draft separate legislation under the reconciliation process to allocate approximately $70 billion for ICE and Border Patrol. Votes on that package were expected in May, and President Trump has said he wants the immigration enforcement funding on his desk by June 1.

Associated Press writer Rio Yamat in Las Vegas contributed to this report.