The US Congress approved funding for most of the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday (April 30), ending a record partial government shutdown that disrupted key federal agencies for more than two months.
Already approved by the Senate, the legislation has cleared the House and now heads to President Donald Trump for his signature.
The measure funds major DHS agencies through Sept. 30 but excludes new funding for immigration enforcement agencies, leaving unresolved the bitter political dispute that triggered the shutdown.
The shutdown ends after 75 days
The department has been partially closed since February 14, making it the longest funding blackout of its kind at 75 days.
The House passed the bill on a voice vote just hours before a key deadline after Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin warned lawmakers that emergency payroll funds were nearly depleted.
The legislation restores normal operations and funding for agencies, including:
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
United States Coast Guard
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
United States Secret Service
However, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol were left out of the deal.
Democrats blame Republicans for the long-running dispute
Patty Murray, the top Democrat in the Senate overseeing government funding, sharply criticized Republicans for delaying the compromise.
“House Speaker Mike Johnson unnecessarily extended the DHS shutdown by over a month. This is the same bill that the Senate unanimously passed five weeks ago,” Murray said.
“After Republicans spent months blocking disaster relief and funding for the TSA, the Coast Guard and our Cyber Defense Agency, it’s great that this bill is finally on track to be signed into law to fund these agencies,” she added.
The immigration fight remains unresolved
The shutdown began after Democrats refused to support funding for immigration enforcement without further restrictions on ICE tactics, including limiting raids on sensitive locations and the use of masks by officers.
Republicans rejected those terms and demanded full funding for border enforcement operations.
The result is now a split funding strategy:
Most DHS agencies are temporarily funded through regular legislation.
Republicans plan to separately seek tens of billions of dollars for ICE and the Border Patrol through the budget reconciliation process, allowing them to bypass Democratic votes in the Senate.
Mike Johnson faced pressure from both sides
For weeks, Mike Johnson has resisted bringing the Senate compromise to the House floor, arguing that the bill does not fully support immigration enforcement.
But mounting pressure from the White House, moderate Republicans and administration officials who warned of the pay shortfall eventually forced Republican leadership to act.
The impasse exposed deep divisions within the Republican Party, with conservative hardliners opposing the partial funding bill while moderates warned that a longer shutdown could damage the party politically ahead of the midterm elections.
Republican Congressman Nick Langworthy publicly urged Johnson to move forward with the Senate bill.
“Thank you Trump for the endorsement and demand for action,” Langworthy wrote on social media.
“No more day should pass with our security at risk,” he added.
Shutting down a strained agency and workers
The prolonged funding shortfall has severely impacted federal personnel and operations across DHS agencies.
Thousands of employees reportedly worked weeks without pay, while more than 1,000 TSA employees are believed to have resigned during the shutdown.
Officials have also warned that preparations for major events – including the upcoming World Cup matches scheduled in American cities this summer – are facing increasing disruption due to staff shortages and funding uncertainty.
We face an even bigger battle over immigration
Despite the immediate shutdown crisis ending, the broader political fight over immigration enforcement remains unresolved.
Republicans are pushing for up to $70 billion in additional funding for ICE and the Border Patrol for the rest of Trump’s presidency, while Democrats continue to demand tighter oversight and curbs on enforcement practices.
(With inputs from Reuters)
