USA28 March, 20262 min read
House Republicans Pass Stopgap Funding DHS Through May 22, Including ICE
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House Republicans rejected Senate-passed DHS funding, extending the government shutdown. Senate-passed partial DHS funding excludes ICE; House has not acted.
New DHS funding standoff
The most consequential new wrinkle is that House Republicans rejected the Senate-passed DHS bill that excludes ICE, opting instead for a House-driven stopgap through May 22. This means DHS would be funded via a House plan that funds all of DHS through May 22, effectively contesting the Senate's pared-down measure.
“The Senate passed a partial DHS funding bill that excludes ICE, but the House has not taken it up.”
Simultaneously, President Trump signed an executive action to pay TSA workers using existing funds, highlighting an off-ramp around the same funding stalemate. The divergence signals growing intra-GOP strain and a willingness to pursue parallel paths to reopen government.
House DHS funding plan
The House plan would fund the entire DHS through May 22 at current funding levels, including ICE. That approach rejects the Senate's measure, which excludes ICE and portions of CBP.
House leaders argue this patch is necessary to avoid airport chaos during the ongoing impasse. Observers note this would mark the fourth time the House has advanced a full DHS funding bill, underscoring the recurring patchwork politics.
Implications for counties and TSA
For counties, DHS funding matters because FEMA, the Disaster Relief Fund, and preparedness grants directly support disaster response, recovery, and local resilience. The immediate operational ripple is TSA pay: TSA agents have not been paid in more than a month, and Trump’s memo to fund pay with existing DHS funds addresses only part of the problem.
“DHS funds programs that help counties prepare for and recover from disasters, keep airports and transit systems safe, and protect local governments from cyberattacks.”
NACo notes the funding package includes $32 billion for FEMA, $26.4 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund, and $3.8 billion for preparedness grants, reflecting the scale of direct county impact. The executive action to pay TSA underscores how the administration uses emergency powers to mend symptoms of a broader funding stalemate.
Outlook and political dynamics
The political reality is that the House plan faces an uphill path in the Senate, and the two-week recess slows any resolution. Democrats insist on changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and border enforcement before funding can proceed, framing the House move as a partial fix rather than a solution.
Analysts note the ongoing stalemate has already triggered near-term consequences for travel and staffing, while prompting calls for a second budget reconciliation as a potential workaround. The next moves will determine how long the DHS shutdown persists.
