Senate Fails to Fund DHS Again, Shutdown Hits Airports Nationwide

The Senate has once again failed to pass a funding bill to reopen the Department of Homeland Security.

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Breaking The News

The shutdown is now beginning to significantly impact travelers across the country as airport security systems face growing strain.

Breaking The News

Lawmakers voted down the proposal numerous times this week, with both parties blaming each other for the ongoing stalemate.

The political standoff has created a crisis at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints where wait times have grown to several hours at some airports.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned that 'TSA is reaching a boiling point' and that 'we need to reopen it as quickly as possible.'

The failure to reach agreement comes as House Republicans prepare to bring another DHS funding bill to the floor for a third vote next week.

Democrats have dug in their heels against any bill that would fund ICE and CBP without implementing reforms to immigration enforcement operations.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer accused Republicans of tying TSA funding to continued ICE funding without necessary changes.

CBS News

The Democratic push for reform was prompted by the fatal shootings of two protesters, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by federal authorities during Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis.

Democrats have offered proposals to split off funding for TSA, the Coast Guard, FEMA and other agencies from the parts of DHS responsible for immigration enforcement.

Democrats have attempted several times to pass these measures via unanimous consent, but Republicans have objected each time.

Republicans have pushed back against Democratic demands, placing responsibility squarely on Democrats for the ongoing shutdown.

“WASHINGTON – There was a lot of focus on the Department of Homeland Security in Congress this week as the Senate vetted a replacement for outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and the shutdown of the department dragged into its second month”

MinnPost

Republicans argue that ICE and Border Patrol funding should not be tied to specific reforms.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune questioned whether Democrats are serious about reaching a deal or see the situation as merely a political issue.

Republicans emerged from meetings with Democrats expressing disappointment that their colleagues appear dead set on demanding that the White House adopt their list of ICE and CBP reforms.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins noted that while the White House has moved toward the Democrats' position on some issues, there are still significant disagreements preventing a comprehensive funding agreement.

The shutdown has had severe impacts on Transportation Security Administration operations.

More than 300 TSA agents have resigned since the shutdown began and many others are calling in sick.

The Hill

The Trump administration has warned of possible shutdowns of the nation's smaller airports.

The growing personnel crisis has led to security wait times stretching to several hours at some airports.

TSA employees have missed paychecks and have been severely impacted by the funding impasse.

Meanwhile, ICE and the Border Patrol remain among the few parts of DHS that have not run out of money and had to furlough employees.

President Donald Trump has blamed Democratic lawmakers for the 'chaos at the airports' caused by the DHS shutdown.

“byAlexander Bolton03/20/26 03:54 PM ET The shutdown of the Department of the Homeland Security (DHS) stretched to 35 days on Friday as Senate Democrats voted to block a House-passed bill to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and other critical federal agencies”

The Hill

House Republicans plan to bring another DHS funding bill to the floor for a third vote next week.

WBFF Fox45 Baltimore

This effort is designed to increase pressure on Senate Democrats.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is set to bring the bill back to the floor as Republicans escalate their efforts.

The House is also expected to vote on a resolution backing DHS workers, including Transportation Security Officers.

Trump's public blaming of Democrats reflects the increasingly partisan nature of the funding standoff.

The White House has attempted to break the deadlock by offering several compromise measures.

These include expanding the use of body-worn cameras for federal immigration enforcement agents.

The administration has offered $100 million for body camera expansion.

The White House has also offered to limit activities of federal immigration enforcement agents at 'sensitive locations' like churches, schools and hospitals.

The administration promised to enforce 'visible officer identification' for federal immigration enforcement officers.

However, the White House has rejected more substantive reforms sought by Senate Democrats.

Negotiators remain far from reaching a comprehensive deal to fund the entire Department of Homeland Security anytime soon.