Senate and House GOP Strike Deal to End Homeland Security Shutdown

Legislation to reopen the department could be approved as early as Thursday morning, representing a sharp turnaround by Republicans.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 7:20pm

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Senate and House Republicans announced an agreement on Wednesday to move ahead as early as Thursday morning with legislation to reopen the Department of Homeland Security, resurrecting a bipartisan deal that President Trump and the House GOP angrily rejected last week. The plan would fund the department through Sept. 30 but omit money for the agencies carrying out Trump's immigration crackdown.

Why it matters

The partial government shutdown over Homeland Security funding has been a major political standoff, with both parties refusing to back down on their immigration priorities. This deal represents a compromise that could end the impasse, though it remains to be seen if Trump will ultimately sign the legislation.

The details

The spending bill does not include any new restrictions on federal immigration agents' conduct, which Democrats had demanded after immigration officers killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. Republicans said Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol would continue to be paid for out of funds they pushed through Congress last year.

  • On Friday, the Senate approved a bipartisan deal to fund Homeland Security, which the House GOP angrily rejected.
  • On Wednesday, Senate and House Republicans announced an agreement to move ahead with legislation to reopen Homeland Security as early as Thursday morning.

The players

John Thune

The Senate majority leader.

Mike Johnson

The Speaker of the House.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States, who had previously rejected the bipartisan funding deal.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

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

“The plan would fund the department through Sept. 30 but omit money for the agencies carrying out Mr. Trump's immigration crackdown.”

— Carl Hulse, Author

What’s next

Both the House and Senate have special pro forma sessions scheduled for early Thursday morning, when the stalled legislation could be taken up, approved and sent to the president as long as no lawmaker objects.

The takeaway

This deal represents a compromise that could end the political standoff over Homeland Security funding, though it remains to be seen if President Trump will ultimately sign the legislation given his previous rejection of the bipartisan agreement.