WASHINGTON — House Republicans passed a temporary funding bill late Friday to fully support the Department of Homeland Security through May 22, rejecting a Senate-approved measure that excluded certain immigration enforcement funding and extending the partial government shutdown that has disrupted airport operations.
The House approved the stopgap legislation on a mostly party-line vote of 213-203. The bill provides full-year equivalent funding for all DHS components, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, through the eight-week period. It now awaits action in the Senate, where it faces uncertain prospects before lawmakers depart for a two-week recess.
The partial shutdown of DHS began Feb. 14 after Congress failed to reach agreement on appropriations amid disagreements over immigration enforcement policies and funding levels. The lapse has led to furloughs and delayed pay for thousands of employees, particularly at the Transportation Security Administration. TSA screeners have worked without regular paychecks, contributing to extended security lines at airports nationwide and increased officer attrition.
Earlier Friday, the Senate unanimously approved by voice vote a separate measure funding most DHS operations, including the TSA, U.S. Coast Guard and FEMA, while setting aside roughly $5.5 billion for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. That bill reflected a compromise framework negotiated with the White House but was rejected by House Republican leaders, who argued it undermined border security priorities.
President Donald Trump has supported efforts to restore full funding and signed a directive earlier in the week for immediate back pay for TSA officers once resources are available. The administration has maintained that core border security operations continue using prior-year allocations.
The House action marks the third time in recent weeks that Republicans have passed legislation to fund DHS in full. Previous measures advanced in the House but stalled in the Senate without sufficient votes to overcome procedural hurdles.
As of Saturday, the partial shutdown continued, with TSA operations strained by staffing shortages. The Senate must still consider the House-passed temporary bill upon return from recess or take other steps to resolve the impasse before the funding measure can reach the president. Airport security wait times and officer call-out rates remained elevated across the country.