A partial U.S. government shutdown is set to continue after the House of Representatives did not vote Thursday on a Senate bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The shutdown began Feb. 14 and will last until at least Monday, when the House reconvenes.
The dispute centers on whether DHS funding should be tied to immigration policy changes. Democrats have said they will not support funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) without changes to agency practices. Republicans have rejected those demands.
DHS oversees the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and airport security agents have gone without pay for six weeks. U.S. airports have reported long lines and travel delays as some agents called out sick or left their jobs.
The Senate bill passed last week would fund TSA and other parts of DHS, but not provide additional money for ICE or CBP, which the article said received increased funding in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer blamed House Republicans for the impasse. “House Republicans own the longest government shutdown in history,” he wrote. “The deep division and dysfunction among House Republicans is needlessly extending the DHS shutdown and hurting federal workers who are missing another paycheck.”
The move came a day after House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced a two-step plan to fund DHS: first, pass a bill funding the department except for ICE and CBP, then address those agencies in separate legislation.
Trump said Thursday on Truth Social that “Republicans are UNIFIED, and moving forward on a plan that will reload funding for our FANTASTIC Border Patrol and Immigration Enforcement Officers.” He said Democrats were pursuing a “Radical Left Policy” by opposing funding for ICE and CBP.
Trump also said he would soon sign an executive order “to pay ALL of the incredible employees at the Department of Homeland Security.” He did not provide details. The White House also has not clarified what money would be used after Trump previously signed an order to pay TSA agents.
Democrats have also used the funding fight to press for changes in immigration enforcement after two U.S. citizens were killed by federal agents in Minnesota in January. They have called for immigration agents to be clearly identifiable, an end to racial profiling in immigration stops, and consistent use of body cameras.