Senate Fails to End DHS Shutdown as Impasse Drags On

Partial government shutdown enters 4th week with no end in sight

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:19pm

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The partial government shutdown over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding has entered its fourth week, with the Senate failing to reach a compromise to reopen the affected agencies. Despite multiple attempts, Senate Democrats and Republicans have been unable to garner the 60 votes needed to pass a funding bill, leaving thousands of federal workers, including TSA agents and Coast Guard personnel, without paychecks.

Why it matters

The ongoing shutdown is having real-world impacts, with TSA wait times increasing and FEMA disaster relief efforts stalling. The impasse also comes at a sensitive time, as tensions with Iran continue to escalate, raising national security concerns. The shutdown is nearing the second-longest in US history, underscoring the political gridlock in Washington.

The details

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Majority Leader John Thune have traded blame, with Democrats withholding support for a DHS funding bill unless changes are made to ICE. Republicans have countered with a temporary funding measure, but Democrats have blocked that as well. With the Senate in recess until March 16, a resolution appears unlikely in the near future.

  • The partial government shutdown is now on day 28 as of Friday, March 13, 2026.
  • The Senate failed to pass a DHS funding bill in a vote on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
  • The Senate is not in session on Friday, March 13, 2026, and no vote is scheduled.
  • The Senate is scheduled to return on Monday, March 16, 2026, when the next vote could take place.
  • The Senate will be on recess from March 30 through April 10, 2026, spanning the Easter holiday.

The players

Chuck Schumer

Senate Minority Leader, a Democrat from New York.

John Thune

Senate Majority Leader, a Republican from South Dakota.

John Fetterman

Senator from Pennsylvania, the only Democrat to vote yes on the House-backed DHS funding bill.

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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 (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The Senate is scheduled to return on Monday, March 16, 2026, when the next vote on the DHS funding bill could take place. However, with the Senate in recess until April 10, a resolution to the shutdown appears unlikely in the near future.

The takeaway

The ongoing DHS shutdown highlights the deep partisan divide in Congress, with neither side willing to compromise. The impasse is having real-world consequences for federal workers and national security, underscoring the need for lawmakers to find a bipartisan solution to end the stalemate.