House Rejects Senate Compromise DHS Funding Bill, President Trump Orders TSA Workers Paid During Shutdown
The 42-day partial shutdown, which began Feb. 14, has left roughly 50,000 TSA officers working without pay, causing mass resignations, high absenteeism and record airport security delays.
Tommy Flynn
WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives rejected a Senate-passed bill that funded most of the Department of Homeland Security while excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), then approved its own measure to fully fund the department through May 22.
Early Friday, March 27, 2026, the Senate passed the partial funding bill by voice vote around 3 a.m. ET. The measure covered TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA, CISA and other non-enforcement components but omitted ICE enforcement operations and certain CBP immigration functions. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) quickly announced Republicans would not accept the Senate version, calling it unacceptable.
Late Friday, the House passed its stopgap bill 213-203, with three Democrats joining Republicans. The legislation funds the entire DHS through May 22, setting up a potential showdown when the Senate returns.
The 42-day partial shutdown, which began Feb. 14, has left roughly 50,000 TSA officers working without pay, causing mass resignations, high absenteeism and record airport security delays.
President Donald Trump responded by signing a memo directing the Department of Homeland Security to immediately pay TSA employees using available funds with a “reasonable and logical nexus” to TSA operations. The order ensures compensation and benefits as if the shutdown had not occurred, with back pay to be provided once full funding is restored. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated TSA workers should begin seeing paychecks as early as Monday.
Trump posted on Truth Social that he was taking action “to address this Emergency Situation, and to quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports.”
The funding impasse stems from Democrats blocking full DHS appropriations to demand restrictions on immigration enforcement, while Republicans, backed by Trump, insist on protecting ICE and border security operations. Republicans plan to pursue separate ICE funding through budget reconciliation.
The House action keeps pressure on Democrats and maintains Republican unity on enforcement priorities. The shutdown continues until a compromise or continuing resolution is reached.