House, Senate Pass DHS Funding Measures After Weeks of Democrat Delays

Congress has taken another step toward restoring operations at the Department of Homeland Security after weeks of disruption caused by a Democrat-driven partial shutdown, though deep divisions in Washington continue to stall a final resolution.

The House of Representatives passed a Republican-backed funding bill on Thursday, marking the third attempt by GOP lawmakers to reopen DHS agencies left without pay during the now 41-day standoff. According to The Hill, the measure cleared the chamber in a 218–206 vote, with four Democrats—Henry Cuellar, Don Davis, Jared Golden, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez—breaking ranks to support the legislation, as they had in prior votes.

Republicans have argued that the repeated efforts underscore their commitment to restoring government functions, while Democrats continue to push for sweeping changes to immigration enforcement policies. Those demands intensified following incidents in Minnesota involving federal agents that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Authorities say Good struck an ICE agent with her vehicle while attempting to flee, while Pretti, who was armed, confronted Border Patrol agents during an operation—incidents now under investigation and subject to legal scrutiny.

Despite ongoing negotiations, the White House and Democratic leadership remain locked in a stalemate over DHS funding and broader immigration policy reforms.

Amid the impasse, a bipartisan group led by Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.)—co-chairs of the Problem Solvers Caucus—has proposed legislation aimed “to immediately re-open” DHS “while advancing commonsense reforms” to ICE, The Hill added.

They explained that the proposal “would require that all federal law enforcement agencies, including ICE, are held to the same high standards and policies as it pertains to training requirements, the use of body cameras, independent investigation of use-of-force at scenes, clear outer identification of the agency engaged in the enforcement action, cooperation with local law enforcement, and a prohibition of masks during enforcement actions coupled with tougher penalties for doxxing.”

Meanwhile, the Senate acted in a rare overnight session, passing a partial DHS funding package at approximately 2:20 a.m. Friday. The legislation is designed to restore pay for Transportation Security Administration workers, many of whom have gone weeks without income while continuing to work through the crisis, WFTV9 reported.

The Senate measure funds most DHS operations but notably excludes Immigration and Customs Enforcement and certain elements of Customs and Border Protection—key priorities for Republicans. The prolonged funding gap has led to staffing shortages and increased absenteeism at airports nationwide, as unpaid TSA officers struggled to remain on duty.

While the Senate’s move offers temporary relief, uncertainty remains. Some workers had still not received pay as of Friday, prompting President Donald J. Trump—now serving his second term—to announce he would sign an executive order to ensure TSA officers receive compensation after weeks of hardship.

Time is quickly running out on Capitol Hill. “Lawmakers are set to leave for a two-week recess beginning March 30, which means they only have a short window to get a DHS deal across the finish line,” The Hill noted further. “If they leave without a deal this week, the shutdown will surpass the record for the longest one in U.S. history, which lasted for 43 days last year, unless the Senate approves regular funding.”

That previous shutdown was likewise driven by Senate Democrats under Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who Republicans say prioritized political leverage over governance.

Against this backdrop, new polling from Real Polling in Real Time with Zogby suggests a tightening political landscape ahead of November’s midterm elections, with Democrats and Republicans essentially tied—a potential warning sign for Democrats as voter frustration over dysfunction in Washington continues to grow.

The poll found:

–Democrats hold decisive double-digit advantages on healthcare (+14), health and wellness (+12), and trust in government amid the Epstein files (+11), and also lead on working-class needs (+8), affordability (+7), middle-class needs (+6), and minimizing AI job loss.

–Republicans lead on crime (+10), immigration (+7), international strength (+3), and keeping the American dream alive (+3).