US House Ends 76-Day DHS Shutdown with Senate-Backed Funding Bill
US House Ends 76-Day DHS Shutdown with Senate-Backed Funding Bill
The House approved a Senate-passed measure to reopen DHS, but funding for ICE and CBP remains under dispute, signaling more debates ahead.
After weeks of standoff, the House voted to end the 76-day partial government shutdown by approving a Senate-passed funding package to reopen the Department of Homeland Security. The move comes despite continued disagreements over immigration enforcement priorities.
The bill funds DHS to reopen the agency, but it does not fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or parts of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in this package. Democrats had demanded reforms to the agencies before approving funding; Republicans pressed for full funding for ICE and CBP, leading to a temporary resolution.
The plan foresees additional funding for ICE and CBP in separate legislation currently under House consideration. Immigration enforcement has been financed under prior appropriations linked to last year's tax-cut package, and DHS has operated without routine funds since mid-February, contributing to delays at airports and other disruptions.
The vote clears the path for DHS staff to be paid, with the White House expected to sign promptly. The context includes heightened tensions after a White House Correspondents' Dinner incident and ongoing debates over how immigration enforcement should be carried out. Democrats paused funding for ICE/CBP to push reforms; Republicans argued for keeping enforcement funded, citing security needs.
