Senate to Vote on Homeland Security Funding Plan

Bipartisan agreement aims to end longest partial government shutdown

Apr. 2, 2026 at 11:55am

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The Senate is expected to vote on a measure Thursday that would fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, though it's unclear how soon the House will follow. The plan, announced by House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, would fully fund DHS except for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol, which would be funded later through party-line spending legislation.

Why it matters

The DHS shutdown has lasted 47 days, causing frustration at airports and leaving thousands of workers without pay. This bipartisan agreement represents an effort to end the impasse, though it faces potential opposition from conservative Republicans who want full funding for immigration enforcement.

The details

The Senate plan would fund most of DHS, excluding ICE and Border Patrol. Republicans would then try to fund those agencies separately through party-line legislation. Neither outcome is guaranteed, and the strategy could face opposition from some GOP members despite President Trump's support.

  • The Senate is expected to vote on the measure on Thursday.
  • The DHS shutdown has lasted 47 days as of Wednesday.

The players

Mike Johnson

House Speaker, Republican from Louisiana.

John Thune

Senate Majority Leader, Republican from South Dakota.

Chuck Schumer

Senate Democratic leader.

Scott Perry

Republican Congressman from Pennsylvania.

Hakeem Jeffries

House Democratic leader.

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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, House Speaker

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

— Chuck 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

“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's action would send the bill back to the House, which is also holding a pro-forma session later on Thursday. Meanwhile, the narrow budget package that Trump wants prepared for later this year is expected to fund ICE and Border Patrol through the remainder of Trump's term.

The takeaway

This bipartisan agreement represents an effort to end the longest partial government shutdown in history, though it faces potential opposition from conservative Republicans who want full funding for immigration enforcement. The outcome remains uncertain as lawmakers try to find a compromise that can pass both chambers.