WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed bipartisan legislation on Thursday that primarily allocates funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), notably excluding immigration enforcement operations. This decision follows the bill’s approval by the House of Representatives, effectively ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
This swift action marked a conclusion to a protracted standoff, which was ignited after President Trump’s aggressive immigration policies in Minneapolis prompted renewed debates on how to fund his administration’s initiatives.
Since February 14, DHS has operated without regular funding, affecting its employees significantly. However, many immigration operations have continued, relying on alternative funding sources. The White House had cautioned that emergency funds allocated to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers and others would soon be depleted, leading to salary delays for some employees.
“It’s about time,” remarked Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the leading Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, who introduced the bipartisan bill more than two months ago.
The House passed the bill quickly through a voice vote early Thursday, foregoing a formal roll call.
These developments arrive as DHS faces increased scrutiny, particularly following President Trump’s dismissal of Kristi Noem from her leadership position and the appointment of Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin during the shutdown. With approximately 260,000 employees, DHS oversees a range of services, including the TSA and the Coast Guard. Many workers have experienced continued disruptions amidst the possibility of furloughs and salary losses due to ongoing legislative gridlock. This shutdown followed last year’s historic 43-day government closure, leaving numerous employees struggling financially or choosing to leave their positions.
Trump’s Immigration Policy Stirs Debate
Following the tragic deaths of American citizens Renee Good and Alex Preti during an immigration protest in Minneapolis, Democrats have been reluctant to fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol without significant operational changes.
Conversely, Republicans oppose any funding plan that excludes provisions for ICE and Border Patrol, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining immigration services. A month earlier, the Senate had unanimously approved a bipartisan package without immigration funding during a late-night vote, but that bill ultimately failed in the House.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) dismissed that package, referring to it as a “joke.”
In a bid to overcome this impasse, Republican leaders in both chambers have opted for a distinct approach to immigration enforcement funding through a complex budget reconciliation process, which will take considerable time. Johnson initiated this path with a separate vote late Wednesday, enabling the passage of a wide range of bipartisan legislation for the remainder of DHS by adopting a Republican budget resolution that allocates $70 billion for immigration and deportation programs through the end of President Trump’s term in 2029.
Speaker Johnson acknowledged on Thursday that he had initially opposed bipartisan solutions but asserted that the new budget would ensure immigration enforcement funding flows without what he termed the “crazy reforms of the Democrats.” He remarked, “We had a seizure; I had to do it.”
Nevertheless, not all Republicans expressed satisfaction with this strategy. On the House floor Thursday, Texas Rep. Chip Roy criticized the decision to segregate immigration-related funds, stating that it is “offensive to the men and women who work for ICE and Border Patrol and serve this country every day.”
Concerns Over Employee Salaries Resurface
This week, the White House reiterated warnings about the potential depletion of funds that President Trump had temporarily allocated to pay TSA and other essential personnel, urging Congress to act swiftly.
Typically, salaries for immigration workers come from a substantial funding injection (approximately $170 billion) approved by Congress last year as part of the Trump tax cut. Meanwhile, TSA employees have depended on presidential intervention via executive actions for their salaries. With most staff classified as essential, they continue to work during these challenging times.
However, the financial resources are running low, with payrolls totaling over $1.6 billion biweekly. Recently, the Administrator of TSA highlighted the untenable nature of the current situation, declaring, “This closure never should have happened.”
Since the shutdown began, more than 1,000 TSA employees have opted to retire, according to Airlines for America, a trade group urging Congress for full funding of the Cabinet Office. Everett Kelly, the national president of the American Federation of Public Employees, expressed relief that Congress is finally moving forward to fund DHS but criticized the prolonged delay, noting that federal employees should not be treated as political pawns.
Upcoming Budget Strategies in Congress
The unilateral approach in the budget resolution process mirrors the strategy used to pass the Trump tax cut last year, which all Democrats opposed. With the budget resolution successfully passed by both the House and Senate, lawmakers are set to draft a $70 billion funding bill for ICE and Border Patrol, scheduled for a vote in May. President Trump has indicated that he desires to have it on his desk by June 1.
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Associated Press writer Rio Yamat in Las Vegas contributed to this report.
