House Republicans, grappling with internal divisions, are set to try to finalize legislation on Thursday to restore funding for Department of Homeland Security agencies that have been operating under a partial shutdown for almost 11 weeks. The move comes as funding for the U.S. Secret Service and airport security nears exhaustion.
Late on Wednesday, the House cleared a $70 billion budget blueprint intended to channel new money to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, ending delays that had been driven in part by disagreements within the party over farm policy. But a broader package previously approved by the Senate - which would provide funding to other DHS components including the Transportation Security Administration, the Coast Guard and FEMA - remained unsettled.
That fuller package has the backing of President Donald Trump and drew warnings from the White House Office of Management and Budget that affected agencies could run out of funds in May, which begins on Friday. If the money is exhausted, the budget office said, the administration would lack the ability to pay all DHS staff, raising the prospect of renewed disruption to air travel and weakening the government's national security posture.
Pressure to clear the Senate-passed measure intensified after prosecutors say a man attempted to assassinate the president during Saturday's White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington. The Senate had previously approved the legislation unanimously on two occasions, but movement in the House has faltered.
That lack of progress has prompted questions about whether Speaker Mike Johnson and House leaders were acting contrary to the White House. Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, denied the suggestion. "We’re not defying the White House. I just got off the phone with the president. Everybody understands what we’re doing. We’re all one team. We’re working together. I met with Leader Thune two hours ago. He knows exactly what we’re doing," he told reporters, adding, "We understand the urgency of it."
Despite the speaker's assurances, a faction of House conservatives and hardliners have withheld support because the measure includes language stating that none of the funding is intended for the president's immigration crackdown - an operation that earlier this year led to the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by immigration officers in Minneapolis.
"The language of zeroing out funding for Border Patrol and ICE is really problematic for a lot of our members. So the desire would be to rewrite that provision," said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, signaling a potential sticking point that could derail swift passage.
House leaders could choose to bring the bill to the floor as early as Thursday under terms that would require Democratic votes to overcome Republican resistance. If they opt for that course, it remains unclear which procedural route they will take. Any substantive changes to the text would force the measure back to the Senate for another vote, creating additional delay and opening the door to objections from Democrats who supported the earlier language.
The timeline is tight. Both chambers of Congress are scheduled to depart on Thursday for a one-week recess, limiting the window for action. The White House Office of Management and Budget's warning that covered agencies would run out of funding in May underscores the immediate operational stakes.
Separately, the House's passage of the budget resolution on Thursday will permit congressional committees to draft standalone legislation to finance ICE and Border Patrol for the rest of the president's term. Republicans aim to use the budget reconciliation process in May to push that funding through the Senate without requiring Democratic votes. Last year, ICE and Border Patrol received $130 billion via the same reconciliation procedure - a significant infusion the president had requested to support an expansive deportation campaign.
Key points
- House Republicans passed a $70 billion budget blueprint late Wednesday to fund ICE and Border Patrol, while a Senate-approved package for TSA, Coast Guard and FEMA remains unresolved.
- Funding for Secret Service and airport security could run out in May, prompting White House warnings about potential disruptions to air travel and national security operations.
- Internal GOP opposition centers on language excluding use of funds for the president's immigration crackdown, complicating a swift House vote and risking further delays that would require renewed Senate approval.
Sectors impacted
- Aviation - potential operational disruption at airports if TSA funding lapses.
- Government services and national security - Secret Service, Coast Guard, FEMA operations could be affected.
- Homeland security contractors - funding uncertainty may affect contracts and cash flow.
Risks and uncertainties
- Funding exhaustion in May could leave the administration unable to pay DHS personnel, risking renewed havoc for air travel and a jeopardized national security posture - this directly threatens aviation operations and public-sector payrolls.
- House Republican opposition to language barring funding for the immigration crackdown could force revisions that then require Senate re-approval, potentially delaying relief and increasing legislative uncertainty for affected agencies and contractors.
- The narrow window before a scheduled one-week congressional recess reduces time for resolution and raises the chance of a lapse in funding if leaders cannot secure the needed votes.
At stake is not only the immediate flow of pay for critical security personnel but also the legislative path lawmakers choose to reconcile competing priorities within their party and across the aisle. How the House proceeds - whether by relying on Democratic support to carry a modified measure or by pursuing reconciliation later in May - will determine how quickly agencies regain full funding and stability.