Trump Urges Congress to End DHS Shutdown Early

White House press secretary says president wants lawmakers to return from recess to address funding impasse.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 8:21pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of the empty hallway of a government building, with warm sunlight streaming in through the windows and deep shadows cast across the floor, conveying a sense of stillness and unease.The eerie silence of a deserted government building reflects the partisan gridlock paralyzing Washington.Washington Today

President Donald Trump is calling on Congress to return from recess early and permanently resolve the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding shutdown, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Leavitt accused Democrats of 'holding our entire country hostage' by refusing to fund certain DHS programs, while Democrats argue Republicans could easily end the stalemate by passing a Senate-approved spending measure.

Why it matters

The DHS shutdown has led to long wait times at U.S. airports as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been impacted. Trump has signed executive orders to pay TSA workers, but Leavitt says that is not a long-term solution. The political standoff over DHS funding reflects the broader partisan divide in Congress.

The details

The Senate late last week approved a DHS spending measure that excluded new monies for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection, at Democrats' request. House GOP leaders rejected that measure, instead approving an eight-week DHS funding measure along party lines. Trump has blamed Democrats for the stalemate, while Democrats argue Republicans could easily end the shutdown by passing the Senate-approved bill.

  • The Senate approved a DHS spending measure last week.
  • The House rejected the Senate measure and approved an eight-week funding bill.
  • Trump signed an executive order to pay TSA employees amid the shutdown.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who is urging Congress to return from recess and resolve the DHS funding impasse.

Karoline Leavitt

The White House press secretary who accused Democrats of 'holding our entire country hostage' over the DHS shutdown.

Adam Smith

The ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee who argued Republicans could easily end the shutdown by passing the Senate-approved DHS spending measure.

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What they’re saying

“'The president is also encouraging Congress to come back to Washington to permanently fix this problem and to fund and reopen the Department of Homeland Security entirely.'”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary

“'Why won't (Speaker) Mike Johnson allow a vote? Because, tell you something, if he allowed a vote, it would pass. All Democrats would vote for it. Eighty percent of Republicans would vote for it. And TSA and everything else would be funded.'”

— Adam Smith, House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.