Government Shutdown Nears End as Senate Passes Homeland Security Funding Bill

President Trump to sign executive order addressing airport disruptions amid national emergency declaration

Mar. 27, 2026 at 4:20pm

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The Senate has passed an overnight bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, signaling a breakthrough in the partial government shutdown. This comes after President Trump announced he will sign an executive order to address airport disruptions, framing the situation as a national emergency.

Why it matters

The government shutdown has caused significant disruptions, particularly at airports, as key agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have been impacted. The president's declaration of a national emergency and plans to take executive action aim to alleviate these issues and move towards a resolution of the broader shutdown.

The details

The Senate passed the bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security overnight, as lawmakers work to bring an end to the partial government shutdown. President Trump also announced that he will sign an executive order instructing the Department of Homeland Security to 'immediately pay' TSA officers, framing the airport disruptions as a national emergency.

  • The Senate passed the Homeland Security funding bill overnight on March 26, 2026.
  • President Trump announced the executive order and national emergency declaration on March 27, 2026.

The players

President Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States who declared a national emergency at airports and plans to sign an executive order to address the issue.

Pete Buttigieg

The current U.S. Secretary of Transportation under the Biden administration.

Sean Duffy

A former Republican Congressman who served as Transportation Secretary under the Trump administration.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

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.