WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives passed a short-term funding bill late Friday to provide full appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security through May 22, aiming to resolve a partial government shutdown that has disrupted airport security and other services for more than six weeks.
The measure cleared on a 213-203 vote, with all Republicans and three Democrats in support. It funds every DHS component at current levels, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. The bill now goes to the Senate, where Democratic leaders have indicated it is unlikely to advance without modifications.
The partial shutdown began Feb. 14 after Congress failed to reach agreement on full-year appropriations amid partisan disputes over immigration enforcement funding. The lapse has affected roughly 270,000 DHS employees, resulting in furloughs for some and delayed pay for thousands of others, particularly Transportation Security Administration screeners. Officer call-out rates have risen sharply, contributing to extended security lines at airports nationwide and the departure of hundreds of TSA personnel since the funding impasse started.
Earlier Friday, the Senate unanimously approved by voice vote a separate measure restoring funding for most DHS operations, including the TSA, U.S. Coast Guard and FEMA, while excluding roughly $5.5 billion for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. House Republican leaders rejected that approach, stating it would weaken border security priorities. President Donald Trump supported restoring full operations and directed the use of prior-year funds for immediate back pay to TSA officers.
The House action marks the latest in a series of attempts to end the shutdown. Previous full-funding bills passed by the House have stalled in the Senate, where procedural votes require 60 votes to advance. Lawmakers from both chambers departed for a two-week recess over the weekend, leaving the funding standoff unresolved.
As of Sunday, the partial shutdown continued, with TSA operations strained by staffing shortages during the peak spring travel season. Airport security wait times remained elevated across the country. The House-passed bill and the Senate-approved measure have created a legislative impasse between the chambers, with no immediate path to resolution before the recess ends.
