Congress ends record 76-day DHS shutdown with partial funding bill, ICE excluded
Primary region US
Tags Policy · Political economy
Regions US
On April 30, 2026, the House passed a partial DHS funding bill by voice vote, ending a 76-day shutdown that began on February 14 — the longest agency shutdown in US history. The bill funds most DHS agencies including the Coast Guard, TSA, Secret Service, FEMA, and CISA, but explicitly excludes Immigration and Customs Enforcement and parts of Border Patrol. Democrats refused to fund ICE without reforms including body-worn cameras and restrictions on face coverings, following the killing of two American citizens by federal agents in Minnesota. Trump signed the bill into law on April 30; ICE and border security funding is being pursued separately through a reconciliation bill with $70 billion allocated. TSA agents and other DHS workers went weeks without pay until Trump directed DHS to temporarily cover their paychecks in March.
Strategic interpretation
The partial funding deal reflects a tactical retreat by House Speaker Mike Johnson, who delayed the vote for weeks under White House pressure. By splitting ICE funding into a separate reconciliation bill, Republicans preserve their immigration enforcement agenda while addressing the immediate crisis of unpaid federal workers. Democrats achieved a partial victory in defunding ICE but face criticism for the shutdown's length. The reconciliation battle over ICE funding will test party discipline five months before midterms.