GOP Leaders Unveil Plan to End Partial Government Shutdown

Proposal aims to fund Department of Homeland Security, with exceptions for ICE and Border Patrol

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:10am

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House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced a plan to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security, moving past a split between the two Republican leaders that resulted in Congress leaving Washington last week without a fix to the record-setting partial government shutdown.

Why it matters

The ongoing partial government shutdown has disrupted government services and caused hardship for federal workers. This plan represents an effort by Republican leaders to break the impasse and restore funding for key homeland security agencies, though it faces opposition from some conservatives who want full funding for immigration enforcement.

The details

The plan involves returning to a previous Senate proposal to fund most of DHS through an agreement with Democratic senators, with the exception of ICE and Border Patrol. Republicans would then try to fund those agencies separately through party-line spending legislation. However, the strategy could face resistance from the GOP's own ranks, and it's unclear how quickly it could move through Congress.

  • The partial government shutdown reached its 47th day on Wednesday.
  • Congress left Washington for a two-week recess last week without resolving the shutdown.
  • The Senate could approve similar legislation as soon as Thursday morning through unanimous consent.

The players

Mike Johnson

House Speaker, a Republican from Louisiana.

John Thune

Senate Majority Leader, a Republican from South Dakota.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States, who has given his support to the plan.

Charles Schumer

Senate Democratic leader, who criticized Republican divisions for derailing a previous bipartisan agreement.

Hakeem Jeffries

House Democratic leader, who called for fully funding all parts of the Department of Homeland Security except for Trump's "violent mass deportation machine."

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What they’re saying

“We appreciate and share the President's determination to once and for all bring an end to the Democrat DHS shutdown.”

— Mike Johnson and John Thune, House Speaker and Senate Majority Leader

“Republican divisions derailed a bipartisan agreement, making American families pay the price for their dysfunction.”

— Charles Schumer, Senate Democratic leader

“Let's make this simple: caving to Democrats and not paying CBP and ICE is agreeing to defund Law Enforcement and leaving our borders wide open again. If that's the vote, I'm a NO.”

— Scott Perry, Republican Congressman from Pennsylvania

“We are going to work as fast, and as focused, as possible to replenish funding for our Border and ICE Agents, and the Radical Left Democrats won't be able to stop us.”

— Donald Trump

“It's time to pay TSA agents, end the airport chaos and fully fund every part of the Department of Homeland Security that does not relate to Donald Trump's violent mass deportation machine.”

— Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic leader

What’s next

The Senate could approve similar legislation as soon as Thursday morning through unanimous consent, but it's unclear how quickly the bill would move through the House. It will likely take several months for Republicans to act on the second part of Trump's plan and pass budgeting legislation to fund ICE and Border Patrol.

The takeaway

This plan represents an effort by Republican leaders to break the impasse over the partial government shutdown, but it faces opposition from both parties. The ongoing dispute over immigration enforcement and border security continues to be a major obstacle to resolving the shutdown.