GOP Leaders Unveil Plan to End DHS Shutdown Through Senate Bill and Reconciliation

The proposal would fund most of DHS through appropriations while using reconciliation to fund ICE and Border Patrol

Apr. 1, 2026 at 7:37pm

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Republican leaders in Congress and President Trump have unveiled a plan to end the partial government shutdown and fully fund the Department of Homeland Security. The proposal would fund most of DHS through the appropriations process until October, while funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through the reconciliation process, which would allow Republicans to pass the legislation without support from Democrats.

Why it matters

The ongoing DHS shutdown has caused staffing shortages at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), leading to long lines and delays at airports. Democrats have refused to fund ICE following two deadly shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis, and have been negotiating with Republicans over reforms such as body cameras and judicial warrants. This new plan aims to break the impasse by separating the funding for immigration enforcement from the rest of DHS.

The details

The plan would fund most of DHS, including agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Coast Guard, through the regular appropriations process until October. However, funding for ICE and CBP would be handled through the reconciliation process, which allows the party in power to approve legislation with direct budgetary consequences without support from the other side. Republicans are aiming to approve funding for immigration enforcement for three years.

  • The House and Senate are currently away from Washington on recess.
  • A vote in the Senate could come as soon as Thursday, when the chamber will hold a pro forma session.
  • The House is also set to meet later Thursday for a pro forma session.

The players

President Trump

The President of the United States who has demanded that Congress fund ICE and Border Patrol through reconciliation.

Mike Johnson

The Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives who will work to make the plan happen.

John Thune

The Republican Senate Majority Leader who will work to make the plan happen.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— President Trump

“In the coming days, Republicans in the Senate and House will be following through on the President's directive by fully funding the entire Department of Homeland Security on two parallel tracks: through the appropriations process and through the reconciliation process.”

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

“It is now abundantly clear that Democrats place allegiance to their radical left-wing base above all else. We cannot allow Democrats to any longer put the safety of the American public at risk through their open border policies, so we are taking that off the table.”

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

What’s next

A vote in the Senate could come as soon as Thursday, when the chamber will hold a pro forma session. The House is also set to meet later Thursday for a pro forma session.

The takeaway

This plan represents a shift in the Republican strategy, as they previously opposed separating funding for immigration enforcement from the rest of DHS. By using reconciliation to fund ICE and CBP, the GOP aims to bypass Democratic opposition and fully restore funding for these agencies, which they argue is necessary to protect public safety.