WASHINGTON — The Senate early Friday unanimously approved legislation to fund most operations of the Department of Homeland Security, aiming to end a partial government shutdown that has lasted more than six weeks and disrupted air travel and other services.
The measure provides funding for key DHS components, including the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard and FEMA, while excluding roughly $5.5 billion designated for Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. The bill now heads to the House, which must act before affected agencies can fully reopen.
The partial shutdown began on Feb. 14 after Congress failed to reach agreement on full-year appropriations for the department. Funding lapsed following earlier short-term extensions, leading to furloughs for thousands of DHS employees and delays in pay for others. TSA screeners have worked without regular paychecks, contributing to extended security lines at major U.S. airports.
Negotiations intensified in recent days as lawmakers faced pressure from constituents and the travel industry. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and other Republican leaders worked with the White House on the framework. The proposal allows most DHS functions to resume while setting aside immigration enforcement funding for separate consideration, possibly through the budget reconciliation process.
President Donald Trump signaled support for the approach earlier this week. On Thursday, he said he would sign an executive order directing immediate back pay for TSA officers. The administration has maintained that core border security and deportation operations under ICE continue with previously allocated funds, including billions provided in prior legislation.
The standoff stemmed from partisan disagreements over immigration enforcement policies and funding levels. House Republicans have repeatedly passed bills for full DHS funding, most recently on Thursday, but those measures stalled in the Senate without the 60 votes needed to advance. Democrats sought greater oversight on enforcement, while Republicans pushed to protect operational capabilities.
As of early Friday, the Senate acted during a rare overnight session. The House is scheduled to consider the Senate-passed measure before lawmakers depart for a two-week recess beginning this weekend. If approved by both chambers and signed by the president, the funding would restore operations for the covered DHS components through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.
The situation at airports and other affected sites remained under close watch Friday morning as workers awaited confirmation of restored funding and pay.
