"The deal funds most DHS components but excludes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol."
President Donald Trump signed a House-passed bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ending the longest shutdown of a single government agency in U.S. history.
Key Developments
DHS Funding Resolution
- President Trump signed a bill that funds most of the Department of Homeland Security.
- The shutdown had affected DHS funding, and the administration had warned that funds for federal security workers would run out after the prior Thursday.
- The bill funds the majority of DHS but does not include funding for ICE and Border Patrol.
- House Republicans sought guarantees that ICE would eventually be funded, and a process to address that has been started.
- The House vote to pass the bill saw two-thirds of members in favor, suspending the rules and concurring with a Senate amendment.
Employee Impact
- DHS employees’ pay is expected to resume, and work schedules are anticipated to return to normal in the coming days.
Background on Shutdown
- The shutdown was initially triggered by Democratic opposition to ICE conduct. No official changes to ICE policies were made as part of this deal.
- Speaker of the House Mike Johnson noted the challenge of passing the bill given the narrow Republican majority in the House.
Additional Legislative Action
- The House passed a 45-day extension for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) , which was set to expire at midnight. The Senate had already passed the extension.
- The Senate passed a rule prohibiting senators from betting on prediction markets such as Polymarket. The House is expected to consider a similar rule.
Nomination Changes
- President Trump withdrew the nomination of Casey Means for Surgeon General due to insufficient support in the Senate. Dr. Nicole Saphier has been nominated as a replacement.
Related Negotiation Context
According to earlier reporting on the shutdown:
Rejected Funding Proposals
- President Trump previously rejected a proposal to fund some DHS agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
- Senate Republicans raised the idea of funding all of DHS except for ICE. President Trump personally rejected this proposal during a phone call with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Political Statements
- President Trump posted on TRUTH Social, stating a preference against making deals with Democrats. He prioritized the passage of the SAVE America Act, an election ID law, and suggested Congress should remain in Washington through the Easter recess.
Negotiation Status
- Talks between moderate Democrats and Tom Homan from DHS aimed at finding a deal are currently in limbo.
- Democrats are reportedly seeking additional concessions from the administration.
Impact on Air Travel
- Increased wait times at airports resulting from the shutdown have been reported.
- Democratic sources cited polling data indicating that a larger percentage of Americans attribute blame to Republicans for the airport disruptions.
- One proposed solution to airport issues involved deploying ICE agents rather than reaching a funding compromise with Democrats.
Future Considerations
- It remained uncertain whether Congress would proceed with its scheduled two-week recess.
- Hundreds of thousands of TSA workers were reported to be at risk of missing a full month's paycheck by the end of the week.
- The extent to which President Trump would continue to advocate for the SAVE Act remained a point of observation.