Senate to Vote on Partial Homeland Security Funding

Republican plan aims to end longest government shutdown

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:18am

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The Senate is expected to vote on Thursday on a measure 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 separate party-line legislation.

Why it matters

The partial government shutdown over border security funding has lasted 47 days, the longest in U.S. history. This plan represents an effort by Republican leaders to end the impasse, though it faces potential opposition from the GOP's most conservative members who want full funding for all of Trump's immigration enforcement agenda.

The details

Under the plan, the Senate would quickly pass a measure funding most of DHS, excluding ICE and Border Patrol. Republicans would then try later to fund those agencies through separate party-line spending legislation. Neither outcome is guaranteed, and the strategy could still face opposition from some Republicans who want full funding for all of Trump's immigration enforcement.

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

The players

Mike Johnson

House Speaker, a Republican from Louisiana.

John Thune

Senate Majority Leader, a Republican from South Dakota.

Chuck Schumer

Senate Democratic leader.

Scott Perry

Republican Congressman from Pennsylvania who opposes the plan.

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 is expected to try quickly passing the measure funding most of DHS on Thursday, though it's unclear how soon the House will follow.

The takeaway

This plan represents an effort by Republican leaders to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, but it faces potential opposition from the GOP's most conservative members who want full funding for all of Trump's immigration enforcement agenda.